Roberta Catherine, one of 12 children of Columbus and Idell Ritchie Redmon, was born November 27, 1915 in Flaherty, Ky. Her faith journey began January 21, 1916, with baptism at St. Martin of Tours Church, Flaherty.
In September 1922, Roberta began her formal education at St. Martin Elementary School, staffed by the Ursuline Sisters, where she continued through eighth grade and the first three years of high school. She came to Mount Saint Joseph Academy for her senior year.
On September 7, 1934, Roberta, along with four other young women, entered the novitiate to begin the three-year preparation for the life of an Ursuline. On August 14, 1935, she was invested in the Ursuline habit and received the name Sister Joseph Carmel.
Shortly after professing temporary vows in 1936, Sister received her first assignment of upper grade teacher at St. Denis Elementary School, Fancy Farm, Ky. Other assignments in the 31 years Sister spent in education were in Ursuline-staffed Kentucky schools in Bardwell, Cloverport, Louisville (St. Columba), Peonia, St. Raphael, Central City, Louisville (St. Paul), Bardwell, Wax, Raywick, St. Francis, Fairfield, Fancy Farm, Calvary, Stanley, Owensboro (Blessed Mother), Raywick, Paducah (Rosary Chapel), Raywick, Fancy Farm, Bardwell, Radcliff, and Louisville (St. Ignatius). Following these years of journeying from mission to mission, she spent six years as clerk in the Maple Mount Post Office. In 1985, she did pastoral ministry for three years at St. Teresa Parish, Grants, N.M. In addition to teaching, Sister Joseph Carmel served as parish organist in many of the small, isolated country parishes where she labored.
In 1988, Sister Joseph Carmel retired to the Motherhouse. She was actively alert in helping everyone in need. One of her many activities was operating a second-time-around clothes closet called the Community Swap Shop. Two of her favorite ministries were serving as minister of hospitality to guests who came to the chapel for Mass on Sunday and weekdays, and regularly popping popcorn for the entire Motherhouse community. Sister died September 2, 1997, after surgery on August 31 for a benign stomach tumor. Father Anthony Shonis celebrated the funeral liturgy on September 5, 1997. Sister Joseph Carmel’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Her Ursuline aunt, Sister Mary Frederick Redmond, preceded her in death.