Maryknoll, NY: Sister Beatrice Carvalho, M.M. died on January 10th, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was born on June 22nd, 1924 in Hawi, Hawaii to Margaret (Silva) Carvalho and Eugene Carvalho. She had four brothers and three sisters, all of whom have pre-deceased her.
In 1942, Beatrice graduated from St. Anthony High School in Wailuku, Maui, HI. She then entered the Maryknoll Sisters on September 6th, 1944 in Maryknoll, NY (from St. Anthony Parish, Wailuku). She made her First Profession of Vows on March 7th, 1947 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on the same date in 1950, also at the Sisters Center.
Sister Beatrice studied at Maryknoll Teachers College (located on the property of the Sisters Center) from 1946-1950, there she received her Bachelor of Education Degree.
In 1950, she received her first overseas mission assignment to Siuna, Nicaragua; after five months studying the Spanish language, she taught first grade. In 1954, she received an assignment to the Maryknoll Sisters new mission project in Puerto Armuelles, Panama. While on her way to her new mission, she was delayed in Ancon, in the Canal Zone for six months, there she taught catechism to patients at Gorgas Hospital until 1955. After her six months in the Canal Zone, Sister Beatrice was able to move to Puerto Armuelles and teach at the parish high school, Colegio San Antonio. She spent one year teaching a variety of subjects: English, music, art, geography and history and was then appointed as Superior and School Principal of the Puerto Armuelles Mission from 1956-1961.
She spent the next several years serving in many different roles. She taught English in Mexico City and Puebla, Mexico from 1961-1971 and served as Director of Commercial Studies. From 1971-1980, she returned to Hawaii to teach Spanish and Religion, served as school counselor and Chairman of the Guidance Department at St. Anthony School in Wailuku.
In 1980, Sister Beatrice returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY for Congregational Service in the Treasury Department until 1982. She also served as one of the Council Member’s from 1982-1985.
She was then assigned to Guatemala City to do pastoral work and teach religious education for youth in public schools from 1986-2001. She returned to Maryknoll, NY to engage in Congregational Service again in 1995-1998.
From 2001-2005, Sister Beatrice relocated to Chicago to serve as Co-Director of Orientation. As she began to transition into retirement she joined the Maryknoll Sisters Community in Monrovia, CA from 2006-2012. In 2012, she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY to fully retire.
Funeral Arrangements: Sister Beatrice’s body was interred in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery. Her Memorial Mass was livestreamed on 1/15/2021 due to the COVID pandemic.