Sr. Joseph Adele Edwards, longtime MSMC professor, dies
Funeral services were held recently for Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Joseph Adele Edwards, 78, who died Dec. 25. The longtime Mount St. Mary’s College professor and administrator had been a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet for nearly 60 years.
Born in Texas but raised in Southern California, she entered the CSJs after graduating from St. Mary’s Academy. She received her bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Mary’s College in 1958 and her secondary credential a few years later. Her first role at the Mount was as admissions director, which included recruitment travel and financial aid counseling.
By 1969, Sister Edwards had completed her master’s in English at USC and, in September of 1970, she began a long career as an assistant professor of English, teaching primarily on her beloved Doheny campus. In addition to being a patient, tireless teacher of writing, she enjoyed crafting her own essays, articles and poetry and had a book of poems published. She loved parish life and made many friends during her 20 years in Visitation Church in Westchester.
Sister Edwards’ administrative gifts were recognized in her later years at the college. She served for a year as interim dean of the Associate in Arts program and, when she finally said goodbye to teaching, was appointed baccalaureate dean on the Chalon campus. When she left that office, she started her last role at the Mount as volunteer tutor in the Learning Center.
Diagnosed with ALS, “she faced her illness with calm and courage,” said a statement from the CSJ community. “She was deeply grateful for the loving care of the Holy Family staff and set up a schedule for herself of spiritual reading, rosary, prayer and the fellowship of her many visitors.”
On Christmas Day, she watched the community Mass on her television and went quietly to God while the Sisters were singing the recessional hymn, “Joy to the World.
Fr. Camillus MacRory, OFM Cap
Funeral Mass was held Jan. 5 at Old Mission Santa Inés in Solvang for Capuchin Franciscan Father Camillus MacRory, 86, who died Dec. 25 after suffering from respiratory complications.
Born in Belfast, he was received as a Capuchin Franciscan in Rochestown, Ireland, in 1943, and was ordained a priest in Ard Mhuire, County Donegal, Ireland, in 1951. After teaching for a year at a Rochestown secondary school, he was sent to Northern California where he served as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Angels Church, Burlingame (1952-60).
For the next 18 years, he ministered as an associate pastor in Oregon and California, serving locally at Old Mission Santa Inés and at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Los Angeles’ Silverlake area. He also served for a time as director of on-going education for the Western America Province, as a member of the Peace, Justice and Ecology Committee and as the national spiritual assistant for the Secular Franciscans.
In his last assignment, he returned to work as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame, where he also served as the parish’s spiritual assistant to the Secular Franciscans. In addition, he would help out at Mater Dolorosa parish in South San Francisco, where he celebrated Mass. According to his fellow Capuchin Franciscans, Father MacRory was a courteous man with a sense of humor and wit who provided “a great example of prayer and fraternity.”
