Sister Carol Schwartz, SSMN, 1932-2024

Sister Carol Schwartz, SSMN, also known as Sister Mary Paul, died peacefully at McAuley Residence in Kenmore Feb. 5, 2024. She was 91 years old. 

Born Sept. 26, 1932, to Raymond and Florence (Tepas) Schwartz, Sister Carol entered the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur order in August 1950 and made her perpetual vows nine years later. She received her bachelor’s degree in Social Studies from Rosary Hill College (now Daemen University in Amherst) in 1964 and her Master’s from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.,  in American History in 1972.

The classroom was the focus of her ministry for the first 30 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 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 Mount St. Mary Academy. She also served as educational coordinator for the Eastern Province of the Sisters of St. Mary.

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. 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. Sister Carol also saw the problems caregivers faced and began a group for those who cared for family members with Alzheimer’s.

For a number of years Sister 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.

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.

Sister Carol was predeceased by her parents; her siblings Raymond, Jerome, Arthur, Florence Langfelder and Rita Jean Schwartz. She is survived by her brother Donald Schwartz.

A visitation will be held at 245 Lafayette Ave., Buffalo, on Thursday, Feb. 8 from 2-5 p.m. A funeral Mass will begin following visitation at 7 p.m.