Dear Seton Montessori Institute community and Friends of Caro,

Please join us for a reception at Seton Montessori Institute and School honoring the life and work of Carolina Gomez del Valle.  She had such an impact on so many, and while we are saddened by her passing, it is a moment to pause and reflect on the impact she had on each of us, on Seton Montessori Institute's programs, students, faculty and alumni, and on what a difference she has made in communities around the world.  (See below for more information about her life and work.)

Do you have a memory to share about Carolina?  

Remembering Sister Carolina Gomez del Valle

September 5, 1940 – May 3, 2017

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Sister Carolina Gomez del Valle

in the early hours of May 3, 2017. Carolina was diagnosed with liver cancer earlier this year and

stoically underwent treatment while living with the support of her Sisters in her Ursuline

community in Puebla, Mexico. As she communicated with those closest to her that she was at

peace in the final hours of her life, Carolina lived out her faith with the same intentionality

she’d lived each day of her life. A mentor, friend and inspiring educator for so many, we are so

very blessed to have had her in our lives.

Although Sister Carolina Gomez del Valle was originally from Puebla, Mexico, her influence as a

Montessori educator has been felt around the world. She established and supported the

growth of Montessori programs for children and for teacher education in such diverse places as

Peru, Nicaragua, Chile, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Slovenia, Taiwan, Cameroon and Canada. Projects

that were especially close to her heart were the Montessori school she helped establish in the

Indian village of Tzinacapan in Mexico, and the Montessori teacher education course for

migrant workers in California. Most recently, she had been working with Montessori teacher

education programs in Slovenia, Spain and Russia in addition to her work in Chile, Brazil and, of

course, Mexico.

Seton Montessori Institute has long been Carolina’s home base in the United States. Together

with Celma Perry, she founded Seton’s Infant-Toddler teacher education course, and for many

years she was a regular presenter in Seton’s Early Childhood courses and keynote speaker for

professional development seminars as well. She has returned regularly over the years to Seton

to observe, consult and lecture. Sister Carolina was the very first person to be honored by the

American Montessori Society with its Living Legacy award in 1992. And last December Carolina

was honored as a Montessori Elder by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher

Education in their “Wisdom of the Elders” ceremony. She had a particular gift for helping

Montessori educators look more deeply at their philosophical roots and daily classroom

practices, and her impact will be felt for generations to come.

Carolina’s first and constant vocation was that of an Ursuline nun, having joined the convent

early in her life. Over the years she held various leadership roles within her convent, their

national and regional order, and served for 12 years in Rome as one of the few representatives

selected to General Council of the Ursuline Order.

Carolina’s years of experience working with Montessori all over the world, specializing in ages

birth to age six, are complemented by her background in family and pastoral counseling. Other

areas of personal interest and study were Bancubi Mathematics, interactive listening with

Classical Music, Qi Gong- Shibashi, and the pedagogical use of films.

“Caro,” as so many knew her as, was a mentor and friend to countless people, both within and

beyond the Montessori world. Her eyes would light up with joy and mirth in the presence of

children, and she made quick, easy friendships with any young people she came into contact

with. An instant and easy companion to all she met, one was never the same after a personal

encounter with Carolina. Her playful and patient knack for inviting each to seek their highest

path is her lasting gift and her extraordinary influence will continue to ripple and grow through

the children, educators and schools she has touched with her life. Godspeed, Sister Carolina!