Sister Mary Carolyn Baker

A Mass of Christian Burial for Notre Dame de Namur Sister Mary Carolyn Baker was held on Nov. 29 at the Mount Notre Dame convent chapel in Reading. She died Nov. 25 at the Mount Notre Dame Health Center at age 84.

The Dayton native spent 64 years in religious life. Sister Mary Carolyn earned a bachelor's degree in education at the Athenaeum of Ohio and a master's degree in library science from Rosary College in River Forest, Ill. Sister Mary Carolyn spent 51 years ineducational ministry.

Her teaching assignments included the former St. Augustine, Cardinal Pacelli and Mount Notre Dame High School - all in Cincinnati; St. Patrick School in Columbus; St. Peter Canisius School in Chicago; St. Alexander School in Villa Pak, Ill.; and the former Notre Dame High School and Badin High School - both in Hamilton. Upon retiring, Sister Mary Carolyn continued her lifelong commitment of education and serving the poor.

Sister Mary is survived by her sisters, Virginia Larger of For Loramie, and Carolyn Fillenwarth of Indianapolis. Interment was in the motherhouse cemetery.

Sister Carolyn Bissmeyer

A Mass of Christian Burial for Franciscan Sister Carolyn Bissmeyer was held on Nov. 26 at the motherhouse chapel of the Sisters of St Francis in Oldenburg, Ind. She died Nov. 23 at St. Clare Hall at the age of 91.

Sister Carolyn, a native of Cincinnati, entered the Oldenburg Franciscan community in 1937 and professed her final vows in 1943. She was appointed director of formation and otherhouse minister for the Franciscan community and served from 1956 to 1968. Sister Carolyn also served as an organist and music teacher at the secondary school level. In addition, she taught music at Marian College in Indianapolis. She was later promotd to associate professor in the music department at the college where she served through 1980.

Sister Carolyn was a teacher at the former Immaculate Conception Academy in Oldenburg: St. John High School in Middletown; and the former Our Lady of Angels Hih School in St. Bernard before retiring in 2002. She continued to serve as a piano accompanist for the Oldenburg Franciscan motherhouse Sisters' choir.

Interment was in the motherhouse cemetery.