Sr. Carmel Kingsley, STJ, a sister of the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus, passed away on February 2, 2007, after struggling with the debilitating effects of illness for the past year. A native of New Orleans, Sr. Carmel was born on March 23, 1920 to William and Sophia Kingsley, the eighth of nine children. She is survived by a nephew, Kenneth Tucker of San Antonio, and many other nieces and nephews in Louisiana. On June 18, 1943 she entered the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus at St. Teresa’s Academy in San Antonio. Except for her two years at the novitiate in San Antonio and a year of Tertianship in Spain, she stayed at St. Teresa’s Academy for the next 22 years, as English teacher, assistant principal, and librarian, returning later for another 3 years as principal. She also taught and was assistant principal at St. Michael’s School in New Orleans for four years, and she spent another 26 years as English teacher and librarian at St. Louis Cathedral School in New Orleans, retiring in 1998, relocating to St. Teresa’s Convent in San Antonio in 2005 as a result of the devastation of Katrina.

Sr. Carmel was passionate about teaching, and gave all she had to education. Her love and concern for the children never faded, and she prayed fervently for them until the end. She was also passionate about the Society, never wanting to be without her beloved habit, which was a sign for her of the joy she found in her commitment to God as a Teresian.