Sister Patricia “Patty” Caraher, OP, died Wed., Nov. 13, 2024, at St. Dominic Villa, Hazel Green, Wis. Natural burial will take place Mon., Nov. 18, in St. Clara Cemetery, Sinsinawa, Wis. A memorial prayer service will be held at 11 a.m. Sat., Dec. 7, at the Racine Dominican Motherhouse, 5635 Erie St., Racine, Wis. Casey-McNett Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
She was born April 19, 1934, in Chicago, Ill. She professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1956 and received the religious name of Sister Alberta. She earned her BA in English from Rosary College, River Forest, Ill.; and an M Ed in guidance and counseling from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.
Sister Patty’s ministry was dedicated to education and social justice. She taught at Most Pure Heart of Mary School, Mobile, Ala., from 1960 to 1975. While there, she cofounded a program for prisoners called LINK. She taught English as a second language at Friendship House and at St. Thomas of Canterbury, Chicago, Ill., where she cofounded Amos Temporary Help and ministered at Epiphany Parish. She served the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as Southern Province councilor for four years and provincial for six years. Sister Patty cofounded and ministered at International Community School, Atlanta, Ga., from 1999 to 2014. She was active at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and was an advocate for refugees at Project Reach-Out, Atlanta. She taught at Our Lady of Refuge School, Bronx, N.Y. She ministered as a CPE at Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, Ill. In Florida, Sister Patty was involved in parish ministry at Jesus the Worker Center, Fort Myers. She also ministered in Louisiana. In May 2023, she moved to Stair Crest Senior Living Community, Muskego, Wis., where she continued her Dominican mission through building relationships with Sisters, staff, and residents. Wherever she served, she volunteered with many local organizations for the betterment of those communities.
Sister Patty was preceded in death by her mother, Josephine; her stepfather, Francis; and her father, David Joyce. She is survived by a sister, Frances Collins; a niece, Mary Collins; and a nephew, Michael Collins; great-nieces and nephews; 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.