Father Carl Maurice Sutphin was born on June 24, 1932 in Santa Barbara, CA. He was the only child of Ramona and Maurice Sutphin. As a boy, he enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing with his family. After serving daily Mass, he would help his father at the meat market. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandfather, and eating his mom’s special enchiladas. He surrendered his life to God, and after graduating high school, he felt called to help others by being a priest. He studied at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo and was ordained a priest on May 1, 1958 by Cardinal McIntyre. Father Carl served at parishes in Hawthorne, Maywood, Camarillo, and in 1975, began work as a chaplain at St. John’s Hospital in Oxnard, CA. Bilingual, he ministered to people in Cabrillo Village, a Spanish speaking neighborhood in Ventura, CA. He started the first Spanish Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Saticoy. Friends and acquaintances described him as a good listener, a great shoulder to cry on, and an uplifter of spirits. He was a person who loved people, and someone that the sick, alienated and marginalized could rely on to be there when they were feeling alone or abandoned. In his retirement years, he took great care of his doggie, Buddy. Later, he resided in Royal Gardens, a Residential community, where he was always surrounded by residents who wanted a little attention or prayer. His amiability and jokes kept them coming back for more. In the end, he was rushed to the hospital with an infection, and passed away a few days after that at the age of 88. He has outlived most of his family but still has one cousin in Northern California.
A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, February 23, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 10800 Henderson Road, Ventura, CA 93004.