†Sister Michael Ellen Carling, OP

Mary Margaret Carling was born in Grand Rapids April 22, 1933, to Michael and Margaret Ellen (Oakes) Carling. Her father was born in Alpena and her mother in White Cloud.  Both families moved to Grand Rapids, where her future parents met and were married. Mary Margaret and her sister Nancy were born just sixteen months apart and so the little family was complete.

Shortly after the birth of both girls, the family moved to Muskegon where the parents owned and operated Carling’s Hamburgers. Sister Michael Ellen retained vivid memories helping in the restaurant during her early years – washing dishes and making hamburgers alongside her sister. She also fondly recalled visiting the Hackley Public Library in Muskegon, a beloved destination for the family of avid readers.

Her parents frequently discussed family history, sparking Sr. Michael Ellen’s lifelong curiosity in genealogy. Her mother was also deeply attentive to politics, following current events on the radio and in the daily newspaper.

Although Methodist in background, their mother felt responsible to fulfill her promise to raise the children Catholic. She enrolled them at St. Mary’s where young Mary Margaret was attracted to both the idea of teaching and the example of the Dominican Sisters. She decided she wanted to become one of them.

The family moved to White Cloud, where the girls attended high school. Mary’s mother opposed her entrance to the convent immediately after high school, so she spent a year at Aquinas College where her admiration for the Dominican Sisters continued to grow. She entered the congregation the following year and at the time of reception took the name Michael Ellen in honor of both parents.

Sister Michael Ellen began her teaching career at St. Boniface, Bay City in 7th and 8th grades for three years. She then spent six years teaching junior high in New Mexico, specifically, Albuquerque and Belen, which she described as a “wonderful experience.” Returning to Michigan, she taught at St. Charles, Tawas City, Alpine and Munger where she also served as the principal of the school.

Sister earned a BA in History, an MA in Religious Studies from Aquinas College and an MA in Library Science from Rosary College, (now Dominican University), in River Forest, Illinois. She found joy in studying, researching, and learning. For nearly 30 years, Sister served as librarian in Saginaw, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids – most notably West Catholic and Catholic Central. A colleague once remarked, “As a librarian, Sister is perfect. Her library was used, as a library should be, as a source of information . . . her help to students and teachers alike is immeasurable.”

Reflecting on her years as a librarian, Sister Michael Ellen wrote that she “loved to learn something every day” and that she looked forward to going to work each morning.

In 1997, Sister succeeded Sr. Mona Schwind as the congregational archivist. She enjoyed working with the congregational records, answering questions, and sharing history in community mailings. Eventually, she dedicated her time to collecting and identifying people in photographs (her face-recognition skills were phenomenal), and assisting with special projects, including Tapestry in Time 2015 and her own research and subsequent publication of Dominican Sisters, Grand Rapids, 1877–1915: A Source Book.

Sister Michael Ellen continued her professional development by attending state conferences of the Michigan Association for Media in Education, and the Regional Educational Media Center, an Archives Conference in Washington, and a service Elderhostel at George Williams C., Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. She also participated in Elderhostel programs—one in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and another in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she traced her family tree and confirmed her distant relation to Thomas Edison (a second cousin three times removed).

She loved reading, photography, history, and travel—often combining these passions with her professional pursuits. In the summer of 1997, she and her cousin, Kathryn, visited the birthplace of their maternal grandmother in Pennsylvania and went on to historic sites as far south as Appomattox. She was proud of her great grandfather’s service in the Civil War and treasured a badge recognizing his service to the Union.

For nearly twenty years, Sister Michael Ellen was able to live in her mother’s home caring lovingly for her mother, widowed aunts, and her sister Nancy in their later years.

Although Sister Michael Ellen was personally challenged by some of the changes brought about by Vatican Council II, she “stayed the course,” continuing to wear the full habit, which she cherished, courageously speaking her concern about some of the changes in religious life, and eventually embracing the broadening inclusivity and renewal of religious life in the spirit of the Council.

Sister’s cousin, Kathryn, described her as “dependable, kind, honest, caring, devoted, and dedicated.” All who knew and loved her would agree—and would add: “a gifted storyteller, a steadfast friend, and a thoroughly good and generous person who will be missed every day.”

Sr. Michael Ellen is survived by her cousin, Kathryn Shirkey, other family, friends, and members of her Dominican Community.