“Whenever I think of IND, I think of Glee Club and Sister Caroleen,” said Institute of Notre Dame graduate Ivy Jernigan in a Facebook post shortly after Sister Caroleen’s death last year. “I also think of Carol of the Bells and how wonderful it was to sing Christmas carols in hospitals, nursing homes, malls, etc. Thank you, Sister Caroleen.”
Sister Caroleen – who had a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Music from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland (now Notre Dame of Maryland University) and a Masters of Arts degree in Music Education from Catholic University – spent 25 years teaching music at IND (1964-89). The rendition of Carol of the Bells she taught the Glee Club was mentioned often on the Facebook post about her death. “Carol of the Bells was always the start of Christmas in Glee Club,” remembered Michelle Lombardo Smith. “Wonderful memories! She gave us those opportunities to shine as individuals by working together.”
One of Sister Caroleen’s most infamous musical quirks was the way she always ended the hymn Though the Mountains May Fall with a flourish, rocking her way down the entire piano keyboard in what one former student called “her very own Jerry Lee Lewis impression.” The young ladies of IND tried to keep straight faces, but the move always elicited giggles. Making people smile was another talent of Sister Caroleen, who was well known for her radiant smile. “She was a character!” Debby Weir Kavanaugh shared on Facebook. “Always smiling and so animated. She was very special.”
Sister Caroleen had discovered her love of music at an early age, thanks to her mother’s talent with the piano and her father’s participation in the St. Michael’s choir. Her family had a collection of records, and she and her father would listen to the opera on the radio every Saturday afternoon. Her 43 years in education were always in the field of music, starting at Notre Dame Preparatory Lower School (1946-51), and then at St. Ann’s School in Baltimore (1951-54) and St. Margaret Mary High School in Harrisburg, PA (1954-64). After leaving IND, Sister Caroleen came to Villa Assumpta as coordinator of pastoral services and later provided music and community service, until she retired to prayer and presence in 2014. She died on December 4, 2017, after 71 years as a School Sister of Notre Dame. Members of her family provided the music at her memorial service, as did members of the Select Choir from IND.
Sister Caroleen’s gift of music will continue to resound in the hearts of all who knew her. Family, friends, students and colleagues were all touched by her gift. It was noted in her obituary that Sister Caroleen knew her ability and used it as she strived to help others reach their potential. As a teacher, her students were always beautifully trained and gave excellent performances. Many sisters remember participating in the concert she directed at the Lyric Theater in Baltimore in the 1960s. Sister Caroleen directed the 90 SSNDs in the concert choir, who could only practice on Saturdays because all the singers were also teachers at the various Baltimore SSND schools during the week.
