Sister Clare Inez Karp

Obituary Sister Clare Inez, a resident of St. Ann Convent, died on August 12, 2007. She was eighty-eight years old and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 69 years. She was born in Baker, Oregon. While she left Baker for twenty years, she returned to Baker for ministry and was a aresident of Baker for a total of fifty years. Sister Clare Inez described her life as a Sister of St. Francis in three ministries. The first twenty years were in elementary education, the second twenty years in religious education, and the third twenty years in healthcare. She taught in California, Oregon and Washington. Sister Clare Inez even taught in the same school that she had attended as a child. In religious education, Sister traveled to the various parishes in the Baker Diocese to instruct those who did not have the benefit of a Catholic school education. She was known to have a heavy foot when driving from one Oregon city to the next. Some called her the forerunner of the flying nun. Sister Clare spent many hours traveling over the Oregon desert and mountains enjoying her adventures as she traveled and met people. Her third ministry was in St. Elizabeth Nursing Home. She called herself a receptionist, but she was much more to those who experienced her presence in the nursing home. She truly ministered to the residents and their families. Each one was special as she offered hope and encouragement to those she served. Sister Clare loved learning. She held a degree in Education from Holy Name College in Spokane, Washington, and a Masters Degree in theology from St. Mary College in South Bend, Indiana. Sister was grateful for her education and shared it in her ministries to enrich the lives of others. In 2002, she moved to St. Ann Convent to enter into a special ministry of prayer. Sister faithfully continued this ministry with the same dedication she had shown in the previous sixty years. Sister is survived by nephews and nieces who live in Oregon and Washington. The Sisters of St. Francis express special thanks to the St. Ann's staff who took loving care of Sister. Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am at St. Ann Convent Chapel on Thursday, August 16, 2007 followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis at St. Ann Convent 6602 South Alaska St., Tacoma, Washington 98408.