Sister Maria del Carmen (St. Lawrence) Ramirez, RSHM died peacefully at Marymount Convent, Tarrytown, NY, Saturday, July 18, 2026. She was 93 years of age and had been a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary for 66 years.
She was born in Macheta, Colombia, on July 15, 1933, to Campo Elias Ramirez and Leonilde Alvarado.
She met the RSHM in Colombia and, and following in the steps of her cousin, Sr. Rosa Ramirez, she entered the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary at the RSHM Novitiate in Tarrytown, NY, on October 30, 1957. She made her first vows in Butler Memorial Chapel, Marymount, Tarrytown on August 23, 1959 and her final vows at Marymount in Bogota Colombia on August 22, 1964.
After making first vows, Sr. Maria del Carmen remained in Tarrytown (1959-1961) serving as a member of the support staff at Marymount College before being missioned back to Colombia. There she continued her ministry of support to the religious community, faculty, and students in schools run by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Colegio Marymount, Medellin (1961-1966;1967-1969) and Colegio Marymount, Bogota (1966-1967; 1969-1970). She spent many years in parish ministry in San Esteban Parish, Cartagena, (1970-1984).
When she returned to Tarrytown, Sr. Maria del Carmen joined the community at Marymount Convent and served in various ministries. She was a parish minister at St. Gabriel’s Parish, New Rochelle, NY (1984-1985), she worked in St. Teresa’s Parish, Sleepy Hollow, NY (1985-1986; 1992-1993) and was a member of the staff and a teacher’s aide at John Paulding School, Tarrytown, NY (1986-1989).
She was a member of the staff at Marymount International Paris, France (1990-1992) and at Stella Maris Regional School, Sag Harbor, NY (1993-1994).
In 1994, Sr. Maria del Carmen returned to Marymount Convent. Although retired from active ministry, she filled many roles as a member of the Convent staff and as sacristan of the Convent chapel. She was also responsible for mail services for the Convent, Provincial Center, and the sisters living in other buildings on the Marymount campus. Until shortly before her death, she was a part-time receptionist at the Provincial Center.
She was a member of the Convent community at the time of her death.
Services at Marymount Convent, 32 Warren Avenue, Tarrytown, NY. Visiting Tuesday, July 20, 20, 4:00 – 7:00 pm with Vigil Service 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial, Wednesday, July 21, 10:30 am. Burial Mount Calvary Cemetery, White Plains.
We invite you to join us for the Vigil Service and Mass at Marymount Convent or by live-stream on our website (www.rshm-east.org/join-us/mass), where they will be archived.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in her name may be made to Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, NY, 10591.
Today we bid farewell to an extraordinary woman, but her legacy will live on in each and every one of us.
Our beloved aunt was much more than a member of our family, she was an example of integrity, unconditional love, and strong moral principles that shaped generations. Through the way she lived, she taught us that doing the right thing is always worthwhile, and that honesty, kindness, and faith are the greatest inheritance a person can leave behind.
She was a deeply loving woman, always thinking of each one of us. There was never a missed phone call, a missing word of encouragement, or a prayer offered with love for the well-being of her family. Her faith was immense, and through prayer she found a way to accompany us, protect us, and sustain us, even from afar.
She carried Colombia in her soul and in her heart. Although she lived outside the country for many years, her love for the land where she was born never faded. She grieved with every hardship our nation endured and rejoiced in every sign of hope for a better future. Her patriotism was genuine and inspiring, because she never stopped believing in Colombia or wishing the very best for its people, and especially for her family.
Her energy, clarity of mind, and wisdom were truly remarkable. She always had the right words, calm advice, and a perspective shaped by experience that brought light to those of us who turned to her. By her example, she taught us that true greatness lies in serving others, in loving deeply, and in living with integrity.
Today we deeply mourn her passing, but we are also profoundly grateful for the privilege of having shared our lives with her. She leaves us with enduring values, cherished memories, and the responsibility to honor her legacy by living according to the principles she instilled in each of us.
Dear Aunt, thank you for your love, your prayers, your example, your teachings, and the extraordinary legacy you leave behind. Your life was a blessing to our family, and your memory will continue to guide us. Rest in peace. You will forever live in our hearts.