Sister Mary Carmelita Rodriguez, Infant of Prague teacher

Rodriguez

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, May 26 for Sister Carmelita Rodriguez in St. Mary of the Angel's Convent Chapel, Williamsville.

Sister Carmelita, 87, died Wednesday, May 23, 2007, in the Health Care Center at St. Mary of the Angels.

Born Justina Rodriguez in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, she later received a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras. After teaching in elementary schools in Puerto Rico for 21 years, she entered the congregation of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Third Order Regular of Buffalo in 1964 where she received the name of Sister M. Carmelita.

Sister Carmelita taught at Infant of Prague School in Cheektowaga and then at San Luis Rey, Madre Cabrini, and St. Mary of the Angels in Puerto Rico. She also worked in pastoral ministry and did both family and community service in Puerto Rico.

For five years, she worked as a tutor at St. Anthony of Padua's School in Greenville, S.C.

In 2004, she returned to St. Mary of the Angels in Williamsville where her prayer became her primary ministry.

She is survived by a sister, Pepita Mir of Puerto Rico.