Sister Carol Bongaarts, OP, died Aug. 27, 2024, at her home in Hopkins, Minn. Visitation will be held 10 a.m. Thurs., Sept. 19 at Church of Christ the King, Minneapolis, and her funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Michael Reding officiating. Lunch will be served in the church social hall after Mass. Washburn-McReavy Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
She was born Dec. 21, 1940, to Joseph and Margaret (Moorman) Bongaarts in Buffalo Lake, Minn. She professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1966 and received the religious name Sister Vincent de Paul. She earned her BA in elementary education and MA in elementary education administration from Marycrest College, Davenport, Ia.
Sister Carol’s ministry was dedicated to teaching and educational administration. In Minnesota, Sister Carol ministered as principal at Epiphany School, Coon Rapids, and St. Bartholomew School, Wayzata. She served in faith formation at St. Henry Parish, Monticello, and volunteered at Carondelet Catholic School, Minneapolis. In Illinois, she taught at St. Malachy School, Geneseo, and Visitation School, Kewanee. In Wisconsin, she served as coordinator at St. Dennis School, Madison; was principal at St. Jerome School, Columbus; and volunteered for many summers at Camp WeHaKee, Winter. She has also ministered in Oklahoma and was principal at St. Martin de Porres School, Columbia, S.C. Sister Carol is remembered by many cousins, friends, and families whose lives she touched during her many years of teaching and sharing her faith.
Sister Carol was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by two brothers, Vince (Patty) and Alan (Sue); a sister, Gail (Steve) Moll; 11 nieces and nephews and 18 great-nieces and nephews with whom she shared a special, loving bond; and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., or given online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate