Margaret Mary was born in Minneapolis on February 26, 1922, the fifth of nine children, to Ralph and Josephine (Grajezyk) Hutchinson. All of the children went to St. Lawrence Grade School, and were taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph. She never went to high school, although she obtained her general equivalency diploma soon after 1968, when permission was given to do so. Instead of going to school, she entered the aspirancy on September 8, 1935, when she was only thirteen years old.

Sr. M. Caroline told her vocation story this way: there were so many children and so few bedrooms in her house that the three girls had to sleep in one bed. Margaret Mary was repeatedly ousted from the bed and then would hurry into her mother’s room and crawl in bed with her. Her mother used to read books and articles to her. One time she read to her about “some sisters that pray.” She told her mother that she wanted to be a nun but did not want to be a teacher. “My mother remembered the Pink Sisters but could not find the address. She found a booklet from Clyde in one of the attic trunks and said to me, ‘they have perpetual adoration but do not dress in pink’ I said, “I don’t care how they dress. The perpetual adoration sounds wonderful to me.” Subsequently her mother wrote to Mother M. Dolorosa and arrangements were made.

At that time, the academy building was being converted into the infirmary, and so after one month at Clyde, Margaret Mary was sent to Mundelein. She reported that she was quite home-sick and very much a “cry-baby” during those days. The following July she returned to Clyde and lived with the postulants, although, because she was so young, she had to wait until August, 1937, to be invested with the habit. She made her first profession in January, 1939, and received the name “Caroline.” She made her final profession on January 29, 1944, and consecration of virgins on July 25, 1956.

Over the years, Sr. M. Caroline was stationed in Clyde, Tucson, Kansas City, and Mundelein. She worked in the Altar Bread and Correspondence Departments, maintenance, kitchen, and sacristy. She also served as vestrarian and procuratrix, and she helped in the garden. Her was a voracious reader and read biographies, history, poetry, and travel books. She also enjoyed gift of being able to see the funny side of life and to put others at ease by her humor. She smiled a lot and loved singing practice.

What drew her close to God, and what she will most likely be remembered for, was the fifteen years she spent helping to care for the sheep at Clyde. She said that these were the happiest years of her life. “Going with the Good Shepherd daily was so nice. He would tell me what to do if one was sick. I still walk with the Good Shepherd.”

Because of failing health, Sister M. Caroline was transferred to St. Louis in 1997. After some months, she became a member of the health care center. Although she had been declining, her death came unexpectedly at 1 lam on December 3, 2000. Many sisters and nursing staff were surrounding her in prayer and singing Jesus Gentle Shepherd as she breathed her last. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in the St. Louis monastery chapel on December 5, with burial in Mt. Calvary cemetery at Clyde on the following day.