October 18, 1936 – January 17, 2026
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Fay Hagen, who died peacefully on January 17, 2026, at St. John of God Care Center in Los Angeles.
Elaine Fay Hagen and her family moved to the San Diego area from Salem, Massachusetts in 1942, when Fay was seven years old. She had one brother, Bill, who was four years older than her.
Fay entered the community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1960, following years working at Mercy Hospital. Her early years of ministry were in grade school and high schools. She particularly loved her ministry with St. Vincent Center and Father Joe Carroll. In addition to feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and serving those in need, they were able to open the first elementary school in a homeless shelter in conjunction with the San Diego School District.
In each of her missions, Sister Fay developed lifelong friendships. She was good-natured and pleasant; she worked with efficient ease, affection and a sympathetic heart. May the gentle compassion she graciously gave to others now be given to her in abundance by God’s divine generosity.
Funeral services for Sister Fay will be held on Wednesday, February 11 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Chapel at Carondelet Center, 11999 Chalon Rd. in Los Angeles. Watch via livestream.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, Los Angeles Province, 11999 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049 or donate online.
Our daughter’s high school principal has died, Sister Fay Hagen. Her order was the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, who came to the Los Angeles area with the task of helping to start a church, starting a girls’ high school and opening a hospital. If you are familiar with St. John Chrysostom Church, the former Daniel Freeman Hospital or St. Mary’s academy, you know what a powerful impact these nuns had on the development of the city of Inglewood. Carondelet Way was named in their honor.
The Sisters wrote a very sweet obituary for Sister Fay, but I would like to share my thoughts of her. I knew her as an educational leader with high standards for her students. She was clear about her expectations, not only for students, but also for the parents. Acceptable and good were words she would never use. Excellence is what she expected, and the proof of her hard work is that every student in my daughter’s school went to college, except two who chose to enter into military service. Sister Fay made sure that each student had a nurturing and safe school environment so that they could do their very best.
The history of St. Mary’s academy includes the story of three friends who joked about being the “Golden Girls.” One girl, who took on the role of Rose, applied for St. Olaf’s college, just for fun. The joke was oven when she was offered a full scholarship to the college.
May the memory of Sister Fay Hagen be for a memory.