Sister Carol had a passion for music and teaching

For more than 50 of her 67 years of religious life, Sister Carol Claussen enriched the lives of countless children through her passion for teaching and music instruction.

Sister Carol, an Omaha native and Servant of Mary sister, died Jan. 10 in Omaha. She was 85.

A private wake service was held Jan. 15 at the Servants of Mary motherhouse chapel in Omaha, followed by a graveside service at the motherhouse cemetery. A public memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.

Sister Carol entered the Servants of Mary in 1953 and professed final vows in 1960. Her teaching career included Omaha schools, the former Holy Ghost from 1969 to 1976 and Christ the King from 1976 to 1981. Also in Omaha, she was a part-time resource teacher at St. Bernard School from 2002 to 2003 and Holy Name from 2001 to 2015.

She also taught at schools in Iowa and Michigan, and for 20 years in Kingston, Jamaica, where she also served as a missionary and pastoral minister.

Sister Carol retired in 2015 and continued to give private music lessons and tutoring.

She was preceded in death by parents, Walter and Margaret Claussen, and brother, Redemptorist Brother Francis Claussen. She is survived by her sister, Mary Jo Bueltel.