Remembering the recently deceased in the Archdiocese of Seattle.


Sister Carmel Gregg, OSF

ASTON, Pa. – Franciscan Sister Carmel Gregg (formerly Sister Ancilla) died July 16, 2024, at Crozer Chester Medical Center. She was 90.

Sister Carmel was a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 70 years, including 19 years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

She was born Aug. 10, 1933, in Ballyfarnon, County Roscommon, Ireland, and entered the Franciscan congregation in 1951, professing her first vows in 1954.

Sister Carmel earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Marylhurst College in Oregon, a master’s degree in religious studies from Gonzaga University in Spokane, a master’s degree in spirituality from Regis University, and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from California Family Studies Center. 

Sister Carmel ministered primarily in education, administration and spiritual/pastoral ministry. 

In the Archdiocese of Seattle, Sister Carmel taught at St. Leo School and St. Charles Borromeo School, both in Tacoma. She also worked as a counselor for 10 years at St. Ann Convent in Tacoma, and then volunteered there for three years, while also serving in advocacy for immigrants at Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest (AIDNW) in Tacoma.

Earlier in her ministry, Sister Carmel spent 16 years in the Archdiocese of Portland, where she taught at Blessed Sacrament School, served on the congregation’s provincial council, served as a counselor at Northeast Catholic Center and worked in spiritual ministry at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Milwaukie. 

Sister Carmel spent 18 years in the Diocese of Spokane, where she taught for six years at St. Charles Borromeo School and served for 12 years as the director of St. Joseph Family Center.

Additional ministries included two years at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in San Diego, California, and seven years in the Diocese of Baker, Oregon, teaching at St. Joseph Academy in Pendleton and Sacred Heart Academy in Klamath Falls. 

In 2021, she moved to Assisi House, the congregation’s retirement residence in Aston, Pennsylvania, where she served in prayer and hospitality ministry until her death.

Sister Carmel is survived by her brothers Brendan (Anne), John (Vanessa) and Patrick (Ginger); sisters Eileen Gregg and Bridget Sullivan, nieces and nephews and her Franciscan family. 

All services will be held July 23 at Assisi House and livestreamed (click here). A Christian wake service will be held at 9:30 a.m., followed by viewing and then a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. 

Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery in Aston. 

Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.

As a free service to the Catholic community, Northwest Catholic posts online the obituaries of Catholics whose funerals are held in parishes in the Archdiocese of Seattle or at Catholic cemeteries in the archdiocese. Submit an obituary here.