Sr. Mary Alice Carbajal, O.P.
01/04/1923 - 10/12/2023
Sr. Mary Alice Carbajal, O.P. (Mary Gilbert) entered eternal life on Wednesday, October 12, 2023. Sr. Mary Alice was born in Fabens, TX, on January 4, 1923, to the late Gilberto and Refugio Rey Carbajal. She was the last surviving of six children and was predeceased by her sister Refugio Carbajal Contreras and brothers Salvador, Alfonso, Gilberto, and Octavio Enrique Carbajal. She is survived by several nieces, nephews, and numerous other extended family members.
Sr. Mary Alice entered the Dominican Sisters of Houston in 1945. She earned a B.A. in Spanish and English at Dominican College, Houston. She completed extended studies in Scripture, Spirituality, and Ministry at the University of California, Riverside, CA.
She served in education ministry for almost forty years, teaching at St. Anthony School, Beaumont, TX; St. Elizabeth School, Port Neches, TX; Christ the King School, Houston; St. Mary School, Orange, TX; Holy Rosary School, Houston; St. Peter the Apostle School, Houston; Holy Family School, Wharton, TX; St. Mary School, Taylor, TX; St. Austin School, Austin, TX; Holy Spirit School, San Antonio, TX; St. Francis de Sales, Riverside, CA; and St. Mary School, Whittier, CA. She also served as principal at St. Francis de Sales, Riverside, CA.
Sr. Mary Alice answered an appeal in 1966 from Pope John XXIII for religious communities to minister in Latin America. She was one of the mission founders at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Sr. Mary Alice’s time in Guatemala was among her favorite in ministry.
Sister also served as a bilingual receptionist at Holy Family Birth Center, Weslaco, TX and religion coordinator at St. Francis De Sales Church, Riverside CA. In retirement, she served her congregation as receptionist and assisted as needed at St. Dominic Villa. Sr. Mary Alice had an impact on many lives. She will be remembered for her faithful letter writing as a prison ministry, her proficiency as a translator, and her love of socializing.
The Houston Dominicans would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the CCVI community and St. Placidus Convent for their loving care and support of Sr. Mary Alice during her final years.
Sister’s body will be welcomed at 4 p.m. and the vigil service will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at St. Dominic Villa Chapel, 6504 Almeda Rd and live streamed at https://youtube.com/live/dl8LQd4GAzw. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Dan Warden on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Dominic Villa Chapel and live streamed at https://youtube.com/live/DJ-oGqDy_Sg. Burial is at Forest Park, Lawndale at 1 p.m. In lieu of the usual remembrances, donations may be made to Dominican Sisters of Houston, 6501 Almeda Road, Houston, TX, 77021.