Mary Carolyn McQuaid, RGS, passes into the arms of our Shepherd God

Sr. Mary Carolyn (Suzanne Marie) McQuaid, RGS

January 4, 1946 – March 27, 2022                                                      

Sister Mary Carolyn McQuaid has been received into the loving arms of our Shepherd God. Mary Carolyn died during the evening of Laetare Sunday, March 27, 2022, at Mason Pointe Care Center in Chesterfield, MO. She had accepted and embraced for almost 1½ years the progressive challenges of living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Sister Mary Carolyn was born January 4, 1946, in Muskegon, Michigan to Daniel Joseph and Carolyn Mary McQuaid. Named Suzanne Marie, she was the second of seven children and grew up in Southern California. She entered the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd in Los Angeles in 1964. She made first vows on September 8, 1967, and final vows on November 23, 1972. She held a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology from Marillac College in St. Louis and a Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University.

Sister Mary Carolyn celebrated her 50th Jubilee as a Good Shepherd Sister on June 24, 2017. During extensive ministry experience she served as teacher, group leader, and director of programs for teenage girls in residential care in Las Vegas and Phoenix. She also served as Executive Director of Marian Manor, a community corrections center in New Orleans for female offenders. In addition, she supervised children’s services and was the program director for House of the Good Shepherd in Chicago for women and their children affected by domestic violence.

Sister Mary Carolyn served in various positions of leadership for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America, including Formation Director, Province Leader, Province Councilor and Treasurer. For many years, she served on nonprofit boards as a director, trustee and officer for the Province and for the international Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd.

Sister Mary Carolyn is survived by her sisters Mary Robinson (Dean) and Maureen Wyperd (Gary), and brothers Daniel (Willette) and Mark, and two generations of nieces, nephews and cousins whom she loved and prayed for daily. Three siblings preceded Sr. Mary Carolyn in death – her sister Carolyn, baby brother Patrick and sister Loretta. Watch the live stream Funeral Mass on YouTube.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Sister Mary Carolyn can be made to: Good Shepherd Mission Office, 7654 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121, or

The ALS Association St. Louis Regional Chapter: 1950 Craig Road, Ste 200, St. Louis, MO 63146, or

BJC Hospice: 1935 Beltway Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63114

Jeanette McDermott

Jeanette McDermott

Jeanette is the Communications Coordinator for Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of Mid-North America. She is a career photojournalist who has served in various capacities of print, broadcast, and corporate communications. Jeanette is devoted to creation and is particularly focused on saving pollinators and other wildlife species and their habitat. She is an ethical vegan and created the website veganstoryteller.com