Sr. ErdmanA memorial Mass for Sister M. Carmelita Erdman, SSND, was celebrated Dec. 29 at Sancta Maria in Ripa in St. Louis. Sister Carmelita died Dec. 16 at Anna House in Bridgeton. She was 89 and a former teacher, principal, director of religious education and pastoral minister.
Born in Hereford, Texas, Sister Carmelita entered the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1946 and professed first vows in 1948 and final vows in 1954.
She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis, and a master's in elementary education from St. Mary University in Leavenworth, Kan.
Sister Carmelita began her teaching ministry at St. Clare in St. Clair. This ministry was followed by teaching positions in Missouri at St. Martin in Jefferson City, Mo., Sacred Heart in Eureka and St. Joseph in Farmington; St. Joseph in Freeburg, Ill., and Sacred Heart in Lawrence, Neb. She was principal at Sacred Heart in Lawrence for six years. She taught religious education for 13 years at St. Mary and Cardinal Stritch in Keokuk, Iowa; Sacred Heart in Dexter, Mo.; Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Herrin, Ill.; St. Michael in Staunton, Ill.; Immaculate Conception in Cuba, N.M.; and St. Francis in Lumberton, N.M. She also served in pastoral ministry for 10 years at St. John in Leopold, Mo.; St. Michael in Staunton, Ill.; and St. Francis in Lumberton, N.M.
After 14 years of community service at the former St. Louis motherhouse, she retired to Veronica House in 2012. She was transferred to Anna House in June 2017.
Sister Carmelita is survived by a brother, Charles Erdman of Rio Rancho, N.M. She donated her body to the St. Louis University School of Medicine.