In the reading from the Book of Proverbs we heard many qualities of a woman giving loving service to others, a woman who brings hope into the lives of others. Her qualities consisted in wisdom, good management and prudent care, seeing to the needs of others ahead of time and creating things by the skills she has mastered.

This woman of hope is recognized as a model of self-control, prudence, understanding and just behavior. She forms, guards and enriches the mind and as well as spirit. She is respected and honored and her praises are sung.

Many of these gifts were manifested in Theresa’s life. Theresa was a woman of prayer. Yesterday I looked in Theresa’s Bible and prayer books that reflect her spirituality and the God of her life. I came across a bookmark placed at the 23rd Psalm, which is her favorite scripture passage. The marker had a picture of Jesus and a Dominican Sister standing side-by-side holding a prayer book and praying together. As she now stands side-by-side with her God I can imagine Theresa saying: “Jesus, did you hear them? They sang our favorite passage: My Shepherd is the Lord.”

I can remember as a postulate after the bell rang for rising in the morning I would race over to chapel to see if I could be there before Theresa. She was there before I arrived. I was convinced she got up before the bell. Perhaps the reality was as we heard in Proverbs “at night her lamp is undimmed” We read that Dominic spent nights in prayer for his new founded family and for the issues and concerns of his day. Theresa was in a variety of leadership positions over the years. I believe she must have experienced some sleepless nights that provided her with special prayer opportunities for the members of her spiritual family. Through her prayer she was “clothed with strength and dignity.” as she walked side-by-side with her God. By the way I only had the occasion of being there three times before Theresa.

She loved to be in nature. We heard in Proverbs “out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.” In 1960 property was purchased in North Dartmouth to create a novitiate. Theresa frequently visited and stayed with us for a few days. We didn’t have a vineyard but we did have a very large vegetable garden. Theresa enjoyed working in the garden. She strongly urged the postulates and novices to help with the weeding and harvesting.

This was part of our recreation or as we would say today: re-creation. It was not only a time of labor but also a time for laughter. Theresa has a bookmark that says: “A good laugh is sunshine in the house.” She loved to play Bible trivia and enjoyed the regular Sunday afternoon card games. If you happened to walk by the room you often could hear much laughter.

“She is grit about with strength, and sturdy are her arms.” according to Proverbs. One of the experiences I remember well is during the winter after a newly fallen snow Theresa would use her cooking skills by making sugar snow taffy. We would gather snow in large pans. Meanwhile Theresa would heat the new maple syrup to the right temperature then poured it over the snow. This is where the challenge came in because it was very difficult to stir this quickly stiffening taffy and attach it to a spoon.

Theresa also had inner strength and sturdiness. Susan read from Proverbs “She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel.” We have experienced these qualities in Theresa through her gifts of gentleness, compassion for others, her pleasant personality, charitableness, and a genuine love for her sisters and her community.

Most recently Theresa had to make a difficult decision about where she would go as the Center of Hope in Fall River was closing. I asked her if she had made a decision about where she would like to go. Without a moment’s hesitation she responded: “I have always lived in community and want to live with my sisters. I will go to Newburgh.” This was done is the spirit of docility and simplicity that characterized so much of her life.

Theresa had a sense of allurement for the new. She was one of the first Dominican Prioress to attend what is now known as the DLC. She invited Dominican Fathers from Providence College to come to the motherhouse to update our Scripture and theology background so that we would be well prepared to go out to preach.

One of her last allurements for the new was her decision to be buried here in Newburg. She had truly integrated what it meant to be a Dominican Sister of Hope. It went beyond a title or a place for she has lived and given us hope throughout her life.

“Many are the women of proven worth, but you have excelled them all. Give her a reward of her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.” We take these words from Proverbs Theresa and give them to you as a blessing from your sisters in hope.

Anne Marie Ryan, OP
November 14, 2002

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