Remembering

Sister Theresa Gonyea, OP
Date of Death: February 3, 2009
Sister Theresa Gonyea, OP of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Newburgh, New York, died Tuesday, February 3, 2009 in Residential Care at the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Newburgh, New York. She was 76.

Sister Theresa entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Fall River, Massachusetts in August 1947, made her First Profession in August 1949, and Final Profession in August 1953. She spent many years in the ministry of cooking for the sisters. She was assigned to Saint Rose Convent in Acushnet MA, 1950-67; St. Augustine Convent in Peru NY, 1967-69; St. Dominic’s Convent in Plattsburgh NY, 1969-70; St. Catherine of Siena Convent in Fall River MA, 1970-72; St. Bernadette Convent in New Haven CT, 1972-76; and St. Peter’s in Plattsburgh NY, 1976-80. From 1980-1995, she was involved in the Christian Appalachia Project in Berea, Kentucky, where she volunteered, ministered to the elderly, and worked in the Child Day Care Center. She moved to the Newburgh Center of Hope in 1995.

In her spare time, Sister Theresa took lessons in cake decorating and soon baking became a well-loved and delicious hobby. She loved the outdoors, too. While in New Haven, the picnics she helped prepare for the convent's annual October picnic and hike at Sleeping Giant State Park were well attended by many sisters who traveled from near and far. It was an event that brought the community together for no other purpose than to pray and play together.
Sister Theresa's love of the outdoors followed her to Newburgh, New York, where she spent the last several years of her life. On one occasion, she received a custom-tailored "garden" so that she could bring the outdoors indoors. This picture shows her tending her garden, which was kept on a screened in porch where it got lots of light. It was something she would say brought her closer to God.
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