Sister Carolyn Wolfbauer, OP of the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, New York, died on January 16, 2022, in Siena Hall, Dominican Convent. She was 84 years old.
Born in St. Louis, MO on January 8, 1938, Carolyn Sue was the daughter of Frank and Caroline Kolasch Wolfbauer.She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 8, 1955 and received the name Sister Mary Sebastian. She professed her first vows in 1957 and final vows in 1962.
Sister Carolyn earned a BS in Education from St. Thomas Aquinas College, 1960; her MS in Biology from Pittsburgh State University, Kansas 1972; and Certification in Social Studies, Biology and Administration from the University of Missouri, 1981.
Sister Carolyn began her ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas College, as clerical assistant (1957-1958); then as teacher in St. Agnes Home and School, Sparkill, NY (1958-1959); St. John Chrysostom School, Bronx, NY (1959-1960); St. Mary School, Fulton, NY, (1960-1962); St. Mary Magdalen School, Brentwood, MO (1962-1967); St. Thomas More School, St. Louis, MO (1967-1969); Cathedral HS, NYC (1969-1979); and as principal at St. Dominic HS, O’Fallon, MO (1979-2002 and Associate Principal 2002-2004). In 2004 Sister Carolyn was elected to the Executive Team of the Dominican Sisters. She served in leadership from 2004 to 2016. Sister Carolyn continued her ministry of service in Dominican Convent.
Sister Carolyn is predeceased by her parents Frank and Caroline Kolasch and her sisters Judy Millett and Joan Kruse. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Don Kruse, nieces and nephews, friends, and her Dominican Sisters and Associates. Sister Carolyn made a difference in the lives of countless children and families in her ministry of education in New York and Missouri. Her leadership skills were shared in Congregational Service on the Executive Team and as teacher, Principal, and Assistant Principal. She did so in a quiet and pastoral manner and lived the goal of the Dominican Sisters to proclaim the reign of God through ministry for justice and reverence for all creation. May she be welcomed into the fullness of God’s presence—well done, good and faithful servant, Sister Carolyn Wolfbauer.