Dominican Sister of Peace Carmen Aragon, OP, (87) died at ODU East Hospital in Columbus, OH, on Monday, August 14, 2017.  She was born in 1930 in Cienfuegos, Cuba, to Maria Caridad Aloma and Pedro Reginaldo Aragon. In 1959, inspired by the Dominican Sisters she had met in school in Cuba, she entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine de’Ricci, now the Dominican Sisters of Peace.

Sister Carmen held diplomas in Business and Home Economics from Escuela del Hogar and Escuela Professional de Comiercio in Cuba. After coming to the United States, she earned a certificate in Doctrine and Training Methods in Religious Education and studied health and rehabilitation, philosophy and theology, and accounting before earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts from Barry University in Miami, FL.

Sr. Carmen was a teacher in Cuba. After coming to the United States, Sr. Carmen entered retreat ministry, where she served for most her religious life. She was a staff member at the Dominican Retreat House in McLean, VA, for more than 30 years, and also served at the Dominican Retreat Houses in Kendall, FL, and Albuquerque, NM.

In her preaching at the funeral Sr. Agnes Gott, OP, remembered Sister Carmen’s enthusiasm for her friends, her work, her many passions, and most of all, her faith. In speaking of Sr. Carmen’s relationship with God, Sr. Agnes said, “She knew she was His beloved – the apple of his eye. She lived in the light of that love… she didn’t need to be in the lime light, she didn’t need to trouble herself trying to do great things but to simply live the little way.”

Sr. Agnes went on to say that, like the Little Flower, Sr. Carmen was gently unassuming, but also strong and determined. She was a fierce advocate for what she believed was right and just and didn’t hesitate to make it known.

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sisters, Maria Teresa Aragon and Elsa Aragon.

A Vigil of Remembrance and the Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, August 23 at Chapel in the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse in Columbus, OH. Sr. Carmen was laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery, also in Columbus, OH.

Memorial gifts in Sr. Carmen’s memory may be submitted securely online or sent to:
Dominican Sisters of Peace
Office of Mission Advancement
2320 Airport Drive
Columbus, OH 43219.