Sister Teresa Marie’s Obituary Educator/Leadership Sister Teresa Marie, 92, a Felician Sister for 73 years, died in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, Buffalo, NY, on February 1, 2019. The former Theresa Patora was born on June 7, 1926, in Erie, PA where she was a member of St. Hedwig Parish. She attended St. Benedict’s High School in Erie, PA, and graduated from Villa Maria Academy in Buffalo, New York.
She entered the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province of the Felician Sisters in Buffalo, New York, on July 9, 1945, and professed perpetual vows on August 9, 1953. She furthered her education at Mount St. Joseph Teachers (Medaille) College, Buffalo, New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. She also held a Master in Religious Education degree from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Early in religious life, S Teresa Marie served at St. Rita’s Home for Children in Getzville, New York, as a nurses’ aide; at Guardian Angel Day Care Center, Buffalo, New York, as a nursery teacher and at Queen of Martyrs School in Cheektowaga, New York, as a Kindergarten teacher. She commenced her service in Canada in 1949 at St. Stanislaus Day Nursery in Toronto, Ontario. From 1952 to 1957 she was involved in parish ministry, social work and teaching of Catechetics at St. Casimir’s School in Toronto.
After a short stay in the United States, S Teresa Marie returned to Canada in 1959 as a teacher at SS Peter and Paul School in Welland, Ontario. On June 13, 1966, she became a Canadian citizen. From 1964 to 1970, she served as teacher and principal at St. Emeric School in Hamilton, Ontario, St. Michael School in Dunnville, Ontario, and at St. Joseph School in Streetsville, Ontario.
After broadening her education, she took on the role of Religion Consultant in St. Catharine’s, ON, and later in Hamilton, ON. In 1980, she became a secretary at Queen of Apostles Renewal Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. She also served in leadership in some local communities.
On September 24, 1978, she was permanently transferred to the Holy Name of Mary Vice-Province. She spent a total of 40 years ministering in Canada. She was a very spiritual and dedicated person.
In 1989, S Teresa Marie was elected to leadership at Holy Name of Mary Province as provincial vicar from 1983 to 1989. Shortly afterward, in 1989, her leadership services extended to Our Lady Mediatrix of Graces Generalate in Rome, Italy, for three years. Upon her return, she served the poor at St. Felix Centre in Toronto, Ontario.
In August 1995, S Teresa Marie returned to the United States and assisted the sisters in the Infirmary for several years. She served in parish ministry at Holy Trinity Parish in Erie, PA, St. Stephen the King Parish in Oswego, NY, and at Sacred Heart Parish, Syracuse, NY. She then served in diverse ways at St. Francis Residence, Buffalo, NY.
She was permanently transferred back to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province on May 1, 1996. Due to physical weakness, S Teresa Marie became a patient in the Blessed Mary Angela Care Center on August 4, 2014. She suffered quietly, yet frequently communicated with others using her smile and her eyes.
When celebrating her 50th Jubilee she wrote, “I am most grateful that God has looked upon me with such great love and called me to Himself to make known his love to all I meet”. Sister Teresa Marie is survived by her sister, Helen Dubowski and nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, the late Stephen and Josephine (Smolinska) Patora, her brothers, Walter, Henry, and Stephen Szymczak and her sister, SM Tyburcia Szymczak, CSSF.
A wake will be held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent (Villa Maria) on Sunday, February 3, 2019, from 2 to 5 p.m. An Evening Prayer Service will take place on Sunday at 5 p.m. in the Convent Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 4, at 9 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Cheektowaga, New York. Memorials may be made to Felician Sisters, 600 Doat St, Buffalo, New York 14211.
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