It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of Carmel Hall MSS in Hobart, Tasmania. Carmel died around 6.15pm on 16th July. Funeral details below.
‘It is a remarkable gift that Carmel has died on her Feast day, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. This would bring her enormous joy,’ said Stancea Vichie, congregational leader of the MSS. ‘Carmel almost made it to her 90th birthday on 2nd September. She was so bright when I said goodbye to her in Hobart last Tuesday.’ Bernadette Wallis MSS was to travel to Hobart this Sunday but with borders closed, the trip has had to be cancelled.
In her last hours, Carmel was surrounded by family, community members and friends. We are especially conscious of Sisters Frances McShane and Lorraine Groves MSS at this time, who spent many of these past years living next door to Carmel in Claremont, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, before Carmel’s recent move to Fairway Rise Aged Care in Hobart.
Born in Latrobe, Tasmania in 1931, Carmel joined the MSS aged 27 years, in 1958. Carmel worked in the Correspondence school for religious education, and in the MSS administration in Tasmania and worked in the Archdiocese of Hobart Marriage Tribunal office. Significantly, she was the MSS Archivist for more than more than 50 years, as well as being the Archivist for the Archdiocese of Hobart for 28 years.
Thank you to each of you for your support and prayer during these days as we remember the life of Carmel and her gifts of love and compassion which we experienced, and which touched the lives of many.
The funeral Mass for Carmel Hall MSS was held on Friday 30th July at St. John’s Catholic Church, Glenorchy, Hobart, Tasmania. A recording of the Mass is available to watch here.
Read the words of remembrance, here.
Watch a slideshow of photographs celebrating the life of Carmel Hall MSS, here.
It is significant that St John’s has been Carmel’s parish for many years, along with the fact that in 1956, Fr John was appointed parish priest to the new parish of Glenorchy, a position he held for seven years. He achieved extraordinary things during these years getting to know the people, organising with them for the building of a primary school, two churches, and bringing the Dominican Sisters from Sydney to work in the school in 1959.
Photograph of Carmel Hall MSS courtesy Fiona Basile.