Sister Helen Theresa Winters, OP (formerly Sister Bernard Marie) of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Ossining, New York, died April 21, 2008 at St. Luke’s Hospital, Newburgh. She was 89 years old.

Sister Helen Theresa entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor on February 2, 1950 made her First Profession December 9, 1951 and Final Profession December 9, 1954. She earned her RN from Mt. Carmel Hospital, her BA in General Studies from Ohio Dominican College, and her MA in Religious Education from St. Joseph’s Seminary.

Sister Helen Theresa’s ministry was in home nursing for the Dominican Sisters of the Sick Poor at centers in Denver, Colorado (1952-53), New York City (1953-55, 1975-76), Springfield, Ohio (1955-56) Boston, Massachusetts (1957-62), Hampton Bays, New York (1962-70), Columbus, Ohio (1970-75) and Ossining, New York (1977-84). She worked at the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Center in the Bronx (1984-86) and was an assistant at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in the Bronx, New York (1986-2004). She moved to the Sisters’ Residence at Mariandale in Ossining NY in 2004 and then to Residential Care at the Newburgh Center of Hope in the fall of 2007.

From reflections by Sister Rose Lawrence Kenney on Sister Helen's life:

Called "Sweet Helen" in the novitiate, Sister Helen Theresa always wore a smile. She loved to study and read and talk. She had taken elocution lessons and loved to entertain with poetry, both her own and that of well-known poets. This multi-talented sister also played the piano, organ, guitar, harmonica, accordian, and ukulele. Pictures of her show her wearing a sombrero while playing the guitar. She took classes whenever she could to improve her skills. Sister Helen was comfortable with everyone and was fluent in Spanish. With all of this, she gave priority to prayer, contemplation, study, and lending a helping hand.

Here is a sample of Sister Helen's poetry:

My Brother Charlie

I recall the day that you were born;
'Twas Mother's Day, I know.
The sun rose early on that morn;
As "Bees' took us in tow.

How strange, one thought, to leave one's home
On this important day,
And all "us kids" were asked to roam,
While "Papa" chose to stay.

When we returned in afternoon
And saw this lovely boy;
All clean, asleep, and there so soon;
More lovely than a toy.

"How did he come?" my thoughts did nag;
My brother Albert fled;
"Did Doctor bring him in a bag?"
"No -- in a box," he said.

So I, at once, began to brag;
I said, smart like fox;
"Alberta came in doctor's bag,
And this one in a box."

So here we have this new-born boy;
Asleep, and oh, so new;
"A bag," "a box," the greatest toy,
All wrapped in baby blue.

But now let's move out of the past,
And see this "baby blue";
Though years have gone by him too fast,
To me, he's still like new.

Sister Helen Theresa Winters
May 8, 2002