Sr. Mary Carmel was born in 1922 in Guayma, Puerto Rico, one of the seven children born to Elisa Desrrivieres and Pablo Lectora. She entered the congregation in 1951, made first profession in 1954, and final profession in 1957.
Sr. Mary Carmel held a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico – a degree she earned when she was in her 70’s.
Sr. Mary Carmel was a dedicated member of our retreat staff, serving at facilities in New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. She did everything that she could to make the retreat experience prayerful and fulfilling for all who attended. She wanted to make every encounter, with every person, one of love and joy, just as her own encounter with Christ was so joyful.
Sr. Carmel was much loved by many of the younger Sisters in our Congregation, and by those who remember her from their younger days. At Sr. Carmel’s service, one Sister remembered that when she was a temporary professed sister, they were given a limited amount of time to socialize or play games with their Perpetually Professed Sisters –time was measured by a clock on the wall. Sr. Carmel would turn back the hands of the clock so that the younger Sisters could stay longer, wanting to spend more time with them and make them feel welcome.
Sr. Mary Carmel was preceded in death by her parents; Pablo Lectora Fantozzi and Elisa Desrrivieres Lebron, her brothers, Pablo Lectora, Jr. Harry Pablo Lectora, Pablo A. Lectora and her sisters, Marie Teresa Lectora Asch and Anna Carmen Lectora Tiburcio. She is survived by her sister, Esther J. Soffio and nephews.
A Vigil of Remembrance Service was held at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse Chapel in Columbus, OH, on Tuesday, October 16, 2018. The funeral liturgy was also held at the Dominican Sisters of Peace Motherhouse Chapel on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
A memorial mass was held on Thursday, November 1, at the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna, NY, and Sr. Mary Carmel was interred at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands, NY.
Memorial gifts in Sr. Mary Carmel Lectora’s memory may be sent to the Dominican Sisters of Peace, Office of Mission Advancement, 2320 Airport Dr., Columbus, OH, 43219.
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