I suppose I should begin today by singing Sister Ann Carmel’s “Mule Song”—but I will spare you that and just remind you that at 103 she could still sing “And the mule said, ‘Hee-Haw, Hee-Haw.”
We remember today her deceased parents, Albin Joseph Segura and Adelaide Llewellyn Eaton Segura; her deceased brothers: Marnell, Charles, and Brother Richard, FSC and her grand nieces and nephews who are here with us today. We thank Sister Ann Carmel’s nephew, Charlie Segura from New Roads, LA and her cousin, Mary Olga Newbig from Plaquemine, LA, for their faithful visits; we welcome her other cousins, relatives, friends and her Sisters in Carmel.
How do you scope 103 years in a few minutes? I will try!
In a conversation Sister Clare had with Sister Ann Carmel, Sister Clare asked her how she was feeling. Ann Carmel said, “I feel like I am dying.” Clare said, “And how does that feel?” Ann Carmel, not losing her quick wit said, “I don’t know, I never died before.”
Sister Ann Carmel was a master artist. The title of her Master’s thesis was “Portrait Painters of Today” and the title of her MFA thesis was “Painting—A Revelation of Inner Being.” That was Sister Ann Carmel, a revelation of inner being. In addition to her MFA and MA from Notre Dame, she earned a BS at USL, a BA in English/French and a Bachelor of Music in Theory-Voice-Instrumental, both from Incarnate Word in San Antonio, TX. She also received her teacher’s diploma from Loyola, New Orleans. She taught biology, vocal music, English, social studies, and art in Mount Carmel schools in Thibodaux, Lafayette, Abbeville, and New Iberia. Sister Ann Carmel taught any subject she was asked to teach—and went to college to get further information needed. She was a ‘Renaissance Woman!’ She graduated cum laude and received many art awards throughout her career. Sister Ann Carmel served as directress of postulants and novices from 1962-1967.
In 1996, the Baton Rouge Advocate carried an article about her. It was entitled, “Painting with Passion—A Desire, Not Therapy.” Ann Carmel painted with passion. In 1995 the Lafayette Advertiser reported that Sister Ann Carmel was a guest speaker at the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Women Suffrage. Sister Ann Carmel was seven years old in 1920 when Women’s Suffrage was passed. The other speaker at the 75th anniversary was Lindy Boggs. Ann Carmel wrote poetry, music and lyrics to many songs which we have on file. She wrote many of her reflections. Her Easter Triduum and her reflections on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are particularly inspiring.
I would like to conclude with the poem, “Peephole of Heaven” that Sister Ann Carmel wrote in 1995.
I peeped through the peephole of heaven—
And what then did I see?
The angels dancing with Mary—
And peeping at you and me.
I peeped through the peephole of heaven
And what then did I see?
The Father, the Son and the Spirit
Smiling at you and me.
I peeped through the peephole of Heaven
And what then did I see?
The Spirit gliding through the peephole,
To dwell in you and me.
With Him came the Father
With Him came the Son
Creator, Redeemer, Spirit—
Blessed Three-in One.
Fill our minds, our hearts, our souls—
Father, Spirit, Son—
Make us burn with love for You
With You, make us one.
One—One—One forever
In closest unity—
One—One—One forever
For all Eternity—
For all eternity.
With 103 years of living and 83 years of vowed life, Ann Carmel can now peep through the Peephole of Heaven and intercede for us. We thank Sisters Clare Cramer, Cheryl Scheaffer, Barbara Nell Laperouse, the sisters at St. Leo convent, the staff at Evangeline Oaks Guest House and all who cared for her. We thank Father Pat Williams, our presider and homilist; Peter Weilbaecher, our musician; Diane Kratochvil, our cantor; and to all of you who have been a part of Sister Ann Carmel’s life. We thank you for joining us today to celebrate her full life. The burial will be in St. Louis Cemetery #3, 3421 Esplanade Avenue for your GPS. We invite you for the reception back here at the Motherhouse, second floor dining room, following the burial.
Please silence all electronic devices as we begin liturgy. We thank Sister Paula Marie Derise for coordinating the liturgy and Sister Kathy Farrelly for making the arrangements with Martin and Castille Funeral Home in Lafayette.
Please rise to greet our presider, Father Pat Williams, and join in the opening hymn, “Be Not Afraid,” found in your program. –Sister Lawrence Habetz