Sister Carol Schwartz

Sr. Carol Schwartz, SSMN, also known as Sr. Mary Paul, died peacefully at McAuley Residence in Kenmore on Monday February 5 th . She was 91 years old. She was predeceased by her parents Raymond and Florence (Tepas) Schwartz; her siblings Raymond, Jerome, Arthur, Florence Langfelder and Rita Jean Schwartz. She is survived by her brother Donald Schwartz, her nieces and nephews as well as many great nieces and nephews, and beloved members of her religious community.

Sister Carol entered the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur in August, 1950 and made her perpetual vows in August, 1959. She received her B.A. in Social Studies from Rosary Hill College in 1964 and her M.A. from Catholic University of America in American History in 1972.

The classroom was the focus of her ministry for the first thirty years of her religious life. She taught at the three parochial grade schools in Lockport: St. John’s, St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s. She also taught at St. Paul’s school in Kenmore. It soon became clear that she had an exceptional ability to administer a school and she became principal of both St. Mary Seminary and Mt. St. Mary Academy. She also served as Educational Coordinator for the Eastern Province of the Sisters of St. Mary.

For a number of years Sr. Carol served on the leadership team of her religious community. For many years she was also in charge of overseeing both the repairs and upkeep of the community’s properties.

Eventually she left teaching and chose a new direction: St. John the Baptist Parish Outreach Coordinator. Here she assumed the usual tasks of giving out food, collecting gifts for the needy at Christmas, etc. Over time however she began new endeavors as she saw the need. Nurses were organized, and taking blood pressure in the parish hall became a regular activity after Sunday Mass. Sr. Carol also saw the problems caregivers faced and began a group for those who cared for family members with Alzheimer’s.

After her ‘official retirement’ she became involved with the work of the Sisters in Fort Erie at Casa El Norte, a shelter for refugees. Every week she drove across the Peace Bridge and assisted in multiple tasks at the service of newcomers. These years offered her many friendships with folks of different cultures and languages. She named these years as some of the happiest
moments of her life.

Sr. Carol will always be remembered by her family, her Buffalo sisters and members of the International Congregation of the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur as a woman of living faith, available to serve whomever and wherever she was sent. She brought joy, openness, and a sense of order to the lives of many.

A visitation will be held at 4975 Strickler Road, in Clarence, on Wednesday February 7 from 2pm - 4pm. A visitation will be held at 245 Lafayette Avenue, in Buffalo on Thursday February 8th from 2pm - 5pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin following visitation at 7pm. Please mail memorial donations in Sister Carols memory to Sisters of St Mary of Namur, 245 Lafayette Avenue., Buffalo NY, 14213.

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