Sister Michelle's body rested between her family and her Carmelite family, of during her May 28 Mass of Christian Burial.

Friends of Sr. Michelle Miranda's recalled fondly many outstanding characteristics of the dynamic Carmelite nun who died unexpectedly in the hospital May 23 at the age of 58. "We all expected that Sr. Michelle would get better," said Bishop Daniel Flores, "and were shocked by her death."

Sr. Michelle was serving as Provincial Superior of Carmel DCJ at the time of her death. Bishop Flores served as the homilist at the May 28 Mass of Christian Burial, which was celebrated by Bishop James Tamayo, of Laredo. Sr. Michelle had requested that the two bishops, who were her close friends, serve as celebrant and homilist at her funeral.

Born on December 16, 1950 the daughter of Rudolph and Socorro Nevarez Miranda in Los Angeles California, the eldest of five children born, Sister Michelle is survived by her parents, Rudy and Cora; her brothers, Rudy and his wife, Shirley and children, Kayla and Issac Miranda; great nephew, Justice; brother, Mark and his wife, Valerie and children, Danielle and Jackie Miranda; and her sister, Jennifer Pacheco and children, Robert and Isabella Pacheco.

Bishop Flores, presently of the Archdiocese of Detroit, had flown home for the funeral. In his homily he referred to the readings of the Mass from the Book of Wisdom 4:7-15 "The just man though he die early, shall be at rest. For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years. Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age."

"Though Sr. Michelle was not granted the length of years the rest of the reading also seems to reflect her life," he said. "Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness."

During her life, Sister Michelle touched the lives of countless others.

She began as a teacher at Our Lady of Soledad in East Los Angeles until the age of 22 when she felt the call to Religious Life. On October 3, 1972 she entered the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus here at Mt. Carmel Home in Corpus Christi. Sister Michelle made her first profession of vows as a Sister on July 2, 1975, her Final Profession of the Vow of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience on July 2, 1980. She celebrated her Silver Jubilee as a Carmelites DCJ Sister on July 2, 2000 at the Child Development Center on Mac Arthur Street where she was a director of this Day Care for most of her Religious Life. In 2003 she became administrator of Mt. Carmel Home until her death. She also became Provincial Superior of Carmel DCJ Sisters in July 2004 to present. Sister became ill for the last two years with diabetes and heart problems and ended her struggle peacefully.

In his homily, Bishop Flores continued to share incidents which demonstrated the great love for people that Sr. Michelle exhibited during her lifetime: Her charism in the care of elderly priests who needed the help of her community in their later years, and her love of the children at the Child Development Center where she spent most of her religious life. Bishop Flores focused on what he termed the "relentless generosity" of Sr. Michelle. Smiling he recalled she was always calling, visiting, checking to see what else she could do for someone in need. "She was a doer; if she saw something that needed to be done she wanted to do it. " Once she told him that "she was going to drive to El Paso to deliver clothing to an orphanage there and turn around and drive back to Corpus Christi. "That is just too much," I told her. "Later I realized that her relentless generosity came from Christ, it is the gift of self, the gift of time, like Christ's it means that, ultimately no sacrifice is too great."

Examples of her relentless generosity can be found all around the Diocese of Corpus Christi, for she had a tremendous impact on many lives.

One story is told by Petra Gonzalez a soft-spoken medication aide at Mt. Carmel Retirement Home. When asked about Sr. Michelle, Petra says, "She gave me a life. She believed in me more than I believed in myself. I never thought I could do anything until I met Sr. Michelle. She sent me to school at Del Mar when I never thought I could do it. She. gave me the confidence to keep going. I did, and became certified as a medication aide. It is a job with a lot of responsibility and requires a lot of care for our residents. I have been working here now for 23 years.

"Sr. Michelle always encouraged me, remembered me on Valentine's Day and other times so that I would know I was special to her." As a sign of her confidence in Petra, Sr. Michelle left an order that in the event all the Sisters had to be away from Mr. Carmel Home at once, Petra was to be in charge of everything during their absence. Ironically, the order went into effect unexpectedly. "Look at me. Today I am in charge of the whole place because the Sisters have all gone to her funeral," Petra spoke with pride tinged with sadness over the loss of her beloved mentor.