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), 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.