Sister Carolyn, baptized Mary Josephine, was born on Oct. 23, 1937, in East St. Louis, Illinois, to parents Frank Joseph and Ida Marie (Feldman) Hupperts. She was received into the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1958. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1962 and a master’s in remedial reading from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1973.

Sister Carolyn began her life’s work as a teacher. She taught at St. Cecilia School in Peoria, Illinois (1962-64) and Nativity of Our Lord School in Chicago (1964-65). She served as a teacher and principal at Assumption School in Kansas City, Missouri (1965-70).

Returning to St. Louis in 1970, she served for three years as principal at St. Margaret of Scotland School. She taught at Bishop Healy School from 1973-76. She finished her last five years in elementary education as principal at Holy Guardian Angels School.

In 1982, Sister Carolyn transitioned to pastoral ministry. She served as a pastoral associate at Holy Guardian Angels Parish her first year. She was a pastoral associate at Blessed Sacrament Church in Kansas City from 1983-86. During the next two years, she was the coordinator of youth/religious education at Catholic Covenant Communities. Then, from 1988-92, she served as a pastoral associate at St. George/St. Jude in Odessa, Missouri.

Sister Carolyn was pastoral associate and RCIA program director at Corpus Christi/St. Lucy Church in St. Louis from 1992-96. She served as a GED teacher for St. Louis Public Schools from 1997 to 2000. She spent the following eight years as the activities director for Mary Ryder Home.

Sister Carolyn retired in 2008 but continued to serve the dear neighbor through her volunteer activities, especially at Carondelet Community Betterment Federation (CCBF). She moved to Nazareth Living Center in 2020 and continued to carry out her ministry of prayer and presence until her passing.

Funeral arrangements are pending.