Carolyn Nicolai

Sr. Carolyn Nicolai was born April 16, 1940 in Teaneck, NJ to Marie and C. W. Nicolai. She had a sister, Marie, who was married to Jim Wyble and they had five wonderful children, Daniel, Kenneth (K.C.), Carolyn, Janet, and Mark.

Sister grew up in Ridgefield Park, Bogota and Kinnelon, NJ. She graduated from Butler High School in 1958 after which she attended Miller Secretarial School. Once she was skilled in secretarial work she was employed as a secretary in NYC until 1960. It was then that she entered the Franciscan Sisters in Peekskill, NY.

Sr. Carolyn earned a BA degree in Spanish and Education at Ladycliff College, Highland Falls, NY and an MA in Religious Education at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY.

During her early years of ministry Sr. Carolyn taught is several Catholic elementary schools in New York and New Jersey. Though she loved teaching, she also felt called to minister to the elderly in the Kennedy Residence, Pompton Lakes, NJ and Bethany Residence, Wayne, NJ. In addition, she served as Pastoral Associate in St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, NJ.

It was in 1989 that Sr. Carolyn moved to Arizona and was a Pastoral Associate in St. Joseph’s Parish, Winslow, AZ. After a few years, she served the Yaqui and Tohono Oodham Tribes in St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Tucson. In 1994 she became Diocesan Director of Pastoral Ministry to Nursing Homes ministering with Fr. Angelo Mastria, O.Carm for twenty years. In 1996, Sr. Carolyn received the Employee of the Year Award from Catholic Community Services of South Arizona.

Prison ministry was also very near and dear to her heart, as she volunteered in prisons for over 20 years and later as a mentor to women who were released from prison. After Sr. Carolyn retired from active ministry in 2015 but continued serving the elderly and mentored the women she grew to love very much. She also rejoiced in the many friends she encountered throughout her life as a Franciscan Sister of Peace.

Music was always a part of her being and she loved singing and playing her guitar which gave her much pleasure. Like St. Francis she loved animals and cared for them kindly throughout her life.

After a brief time on Hospice at The Center Nursing Facility in Tucson, Sr. Carolyn died peacefully on December 14, 2025 no doubt hearing her Lord say, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest!”

Sr. Carolyn is survived by her nephews Kenneth (K.C.) and Mark, her niece, Carolyn , several grand nieces and many cousins whom she loved very much.

A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated in St. Pius X Parish, Tucson, AZ on Friday, January 2, 2026. The celebrant will be Most Rev. Gerald Kicanas, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Tucson. A Mass will be celebrated at a later date at Marian Woods, Hartsdale, NY. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Yonkers immediately following the Mass.