Sister Martha of Jesus
entered Eternal Life
Sister Martha of Jesus
June 19, 1942 - November 7, 2022
On Monday, November 7th, God called our beloved Sister Martha of Jesus home with Him. She died peacefully in her infirmary cell, in the loving presence of all her beloved Carmelite Sisters praying and singing many of her favorite hymns. The community just celebrated her 80th birthday on June 19 of this year and her 60th Diamond Jubilee of Consecrated Life in 2021.
Karin Hall was born on June 19, 1942, in Bardstown, Kentucky, to Isaac Bernard and Mary Elizabeth (Lilly) Hall, the oldest of eight siblings. She attended grade school in Maple Mount, KY, and high school at St. Catherine's Academy in Springfield, KY.
When she was a teenager, her mom and dad gave her St. Therese’s Story of a Soul, which planted the seed of a Carmelite vocation in her young heart. She entered the Carmel of Terre Haute on October 1, 1960. She received the habit of the Order on October 7, 1961, taking the religious name Sister Martha of Jesus. She made her first profession of vows on October 15, 1962. Her solemn profession of vows was on the same date in 1965.
Sister Martha's sixty-two years in Carmel marked with faithful prayer, love, and generous service in her community for the Church and the world. She had a beautiful soprano voice and loved to participate in liturgical singing and entertaining the nuns for special occasions. She served quietly and lovingly in many practical capacities: landscaping, printing, cooking, gardening, carpentry, and maintenance of all kinds.
Sister Martha had a very loving heart for all and took interest in all the Sisters’ needs and concerns. She was always well-loved by any who came in contact with her for her gentleness, kindness, and generosity with her time. She was willing to help with anything in the monastery with a big beautiful smile. It’s a great privilege to have lived with Sister Martha and to have learned from her.
Her funeral mass celebrated by our Carmelite Provincial, Father Michael Berry, was beautiful. The chapel was filled with Sr. Martha's family, relatives, and local friends. In his homily Father Michael pointed out two characteristics that shined forth in Sr. Martha's life - a tendency to see goodness in others and the joy of service. Sister Martha once wrote "I want to be a good friend of Jesus and my Sisters... to respond to His call to a life of intimacy in an eremitical/Community setting... I want to embrace with joy the deprivations and losses that are necessary so as to be available for God and my Sisters." She was truly a daughter of St. Teresa of Jesus.
Please join us in prayer and in thanksgiving for her life. May Sister Martha rest in the deep peace of God.