Carol “Leo Patrice” Hood

“Love each other as I have loved you.” – John 15:12

Sister Carol Hood, SNDdeN was born in Boston, one of nine children, “the oldest girl and with that came a lot of responsibilities for my younger siblings,” she recalls. “We had a very happy childhood in the ‘40s and ‘50s that included playing in the streets! I enjoyed playing sports, such as baseball and softball, and played basketball through high school.

She went to Catholic school and met Sisters that she admired. “They were kind and I was attracted to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in that way.”

She entered the SNDdeNs in 1959, taking the name Sister Leo Patrice. She took her first vows in 1962 and final vows in 1967.

As a novice, she counseled high school girls. “I looked them in the eye and listened. A lot of the girls hadn’t experienced that before. I very much enjoyed counseling for that reason.”

She was a 7th- and 8th-grade teacher for several years, and also taught French. “On my first day, I walked into a classroom of 45 young women. I was scared stiff! They were very, very expectant and optimistic about being there.”

Sister Carol taught She taught at St. Mary in Cambridge, St. Mary in Waltham, St. Joseph in Somerville, Fitton, East Boston, East Boston Central Catholic, Cardinal Cushing Central High in South Boston, and St. Mark in Dorchester.

She stopped teaching for health reasons and became a counselor for 32 years to ages 4-14. “The high school girls had a lot of experiences in their lives. Just like in sports, I was a coach for their emotional and spiritual life. It was also wonderful to be able to interact with young kids, especially 3rd and 4th grade kids when they start to understand the most.”

She volunteers at St. Julie’s House with my housemates, including Sister Louise Kearns. SNDdeN, with whom she has lived for more than 50 years.

“This 60th Jubilee (2019), I am most grateful throughout the years for my sisterhood. There is so much purpose in the world, and knowing that God is walking alongside me as my counselor and my advisor, and that is what I value the most. I also pull strength from St. Julie and all that she had to struggle with in her life.”

Updated in 2026.