Carol Estelle Wheeler RSM

Carol Estelle Wheeler, RSM beloved Sister of Mercy, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2021 at Stella Maris in Timonium, Maryland. Sister Carol was a well-known scholar, writer, feminist, and long-time principal and president of Mercy High School in Baltimore. She was 84 years old and had been a Sister of Mercy for 62 years. Born September 9, 1936 and raised in Mobile, AL, she was the daughter of Frederick Grant Wheeler and Agnes Estelle Ryan Wheeler. She attended St. Mary's grammar school, Bishop Toolen High School, and Maryville College of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis where she graduated with a degree in English. She entered the Sisters of Mercy community in 1959 when she was 22 years old, the senior postulant in her band. She made her novitiate at Mount Washington and received Sister Mary Seraphia as her name in religion. She was sent to teach at the newly opened Mercy High School Baltimore. After seven years at Mercy High, she returned for one year to her alma mater, Bishop Toolen High School. She then spent the next few years at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, earning her Master's Degree in Philosophy in 1971. She earned a second MA in Education from the University of Chicago. She returned to teach at Mercy High in Baltimore twice before coming back permanently in 1976 for a four decade ministry at the school. In 1977, Sister Mary Seraphia, now known as Sister Carol Estelle Wheeler, was appointed principal of the school, and later, principal and president. She retained the title of president until her retirement in 2013, after which she continued as an educational consultant. In addition to being a strong administrator, advisor and mentor she was a founding member and first president of the Mercy Secondary Education Association established in 1981. Through an annual conference and opportunities for collaboration it continues to provide a national forum to enhance and further the Mercy charism in secondary education. Sister Carol's advisees and students loved and admired her, recognizing her brilliance as a teacher, her caring interest in each young woman, and her respect for their individuality. Former students speak of Sister Carol as a woman of great faith and vision, a charismatic teacher, and someone with a tough mind and a tender heart. One of her early students said about Sister Carol: "When you have a teacher like Sister Carol, you never forget how lucky you were that she entered your young life and followed your achievements and sorrows long after you left Mercy." Sister Carol was predeceased by her brother, Fredrick Grant Wheeler, Junior. She is survived by her sister Erin Ryan Wheeler, first cousins Jack (Emily) O'Neill, Reggie (Sherry) Wheeler of Mobile, Liska Forsyth of Check, VA , and other relatives. Graveside service and burial on May 25, 2021 will be at 10:30 AM at Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore. A Memorial Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Baltimore. The liturgy will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/IHMChurchMD and www.youtube.com/IHMChurchMD. Additional information can be found at www.catholicreview.org and www.ruckfuneralhomes.com. Contributions honoring Sister Carol may be made to the Seraphia Scholars Fund at Mercy High School, 1300 East Northern Pkwy, Baltimore, MD 21239.