Sister Maria Dolores Mairlot, a native of Asturias, Spain, and a member of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity, died Sept. 26. She was 91 and had been a member of her community since 1953.
Sister Maria was a talented musician and pursued a career in nursing before joining the Carmelites. She came to the east coast of the United States in 1980 with many sisters from England and the Caribbean to help the increasing number of Spanish-speaking immigrants coming to Washington, D.C., and New York. She helped found Mount Carmel House, a shelter for homeless women, and worked as a nurse in Washington and Maryland.
She moved to Georgetown, Del., in 1995, to serve the area’s growing Hispanic population with Sisters Rosa Alvarez and Ascension Banegas. Sister Maria was a pastoral associate at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Georgetown, teaching faith formation, preparing couples for marriage, mentoring church leaders, and directing choirs.
She also helped people through the homebuying process, served as an interpreter and advocate for families at medical appointments and supported the establishment of essential community organizations.
In 2003, Sister Maria received the Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award for her work at St. Michael the Archangel, and seven years later she was honored with the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Benedict XVI for her service to the church.
She retired in 2017 and returned to Washington, where she lived with the Carmelite Sisters. A memorial Mass will be held in her honor. Donations in her name can be made to the Rosa Health Center, which offers healthcare and other services for the underserved in the Georgetown area. The address is 10 N. Front St., Georgetown, DE 19947.
