Sr. Carolyn Royston, age 71 of the Srs. of St. Francis in Oldenburg, died Friday, April 28, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois. Born December 11, 1945 in Cincinnati, Ohio, she is the daughter of Angela (Nee: Early) and Thomas Royston.
The sixth of seven children, she grew up in the St. Bernard area of Cincinnati attending St. Clement’s School and Our Lady of Angels High School where she became familiar with the Srs. of St. Francis. She chose to join convent as one of her older sister had done before her.
Passionate about education, she earned a B.A. from Marion University and an M.A. from Miami University in Ohio. Her teaching career included schools in Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and Streator, Illinois, where she’s remained for over three decades. In Streator, she served as principal from 1979 – 2010 at St. Anthony’s. She enjoyed Streator so much, she chose to stay and serve as Director of the Guardian Angel Outreach for Women at the parish as well as a member of the parish Care Team, visiting the homebound and those in hospitals and nursing homes until her untimely death.
Sr. Carol challenged her students and was quick to accept a challenge herself. She helped plan and raise funds for a million dollar addition to St. Anthony’s School which included a new cafeteria, gym and classrooms to accommodate the school’s increasing enrollment. She shared her Franciscan heart with all those she met and although her death was unexpected, she entered heaven knowing she had been a good and faithful servant.
She is survived by sisters Ann Kimes, Mary Maisel, both of Cincinnati, Maureen Wallace of Alexandria, Virginia and brother James Royston of Cincinnati. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her sister Sr. Eileen Royston O.S.F. and brother Thomas Royston.
A visitation and services will be held Wednesday evening, May 4th and Thursday May 5th in Streator. Visitation at the Motherhouse in Oldenburg will be Monday, May 8th, from 1 – 3 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m., with burial in the convent cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Srs. of St. Francis, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, Indiana, 47036 (www.OldenburgFranciscans.org). Weigel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.