Mary Shirley Carmen, the ninth of 12 children of Joseph Booth and Alma Bell Carrico, was born June 2, 1920, in Manton, Nelson County, Ky. On June 6, she began her faith journey with baptism at Holy Rosary Church, Manton.
In September 1926, Shirley began her formal education at High View School, Nelson County, where she continued through grade eight. She attended Holy Trinity High School, Fredericktown, graduating in 1938. The following September, Shirley entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. On August 14, 1939, Shirley was invested in the Ursuline habit and received the name Sister Carmencita.
In September 1941, shortly after professing temporary vows, Sister was assigned grades 1-4 at St. Joseph School, Paul, Neb. She would continue teaching in Nebraska until 1948: Nebraska City (St. Benedict), and Plattsmouth (St. John). She was next assigned to Princeton, Ky., for five years and to Louisville (St. Margaret Mary) for two years. In 1955, she was sent to Seven Holy Founders School in Affton, Mo., for 10 years. She came back to Kentucky in 1965, assigned to St. Joseph and Paul in Owensboro but was off duty part of that year due to sickness. She was next assigned to schools in Louisville, (St. Ignatius, St. Margaret Mary and Mother of Good Counsel); in Paducah, Ky., (St. Thomas More); and in Owensboro (Precious Blood). In 1975, she was missioned to St. Catherine, New Haven, Ky., for eight years, her last teaching assignment.
In 1983, Sister retired from the classroom, and returned to the Motherhouse to serve in health care, especially with the special needs of the mobile, elderly Sisters residing in Paul Volk Hall and St. Ursula Hall. She was a lighthearted, compassionate presence monitoring the Sisters’ every need — cutting hair, trimming nails, carrying trays, changing bed linens, acquiring needed medicines and supplies, welcoming their visitors, showing movies, finding lost articles, planning outings, helping with prayer and meditation on Scripture. A veritable angel!
In 1993, she experienced definite signs of Parkinson’s disease. The ravages of the disease slowly progressed, resulting in her death on October 19, 1998. The wake was held on the feast of Saint Ursula. The funeral Mass was celebrated on October 22. Sister Carmencita’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Mary Corda.