Maryknoll, NY: Sister Therese Howard, M.M. died on November 22nd, 2021 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll,NY. She was 94 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 65 years.
Therese was born in Janesville, WI on October 7th, 1927 to Nellie (Mergener) Howard and Floyd Howard. She had one brother, Robert Howard.
In 1945, she graduated from Dormont High School, Pittsburgh, PA. After graduation she attended Carnegie Institute of Technology, (now Carnegie Mellon University), in Pittsburgh, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1949. She also earned a Degree in Medical Technology in 1956 from Allegheny General Hospital, PA.
On September 2nd, 1956 Therese entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate in Maryknoll, NY (from St. Anne’s Parish in Castle Shannon, PA in the Diocese of Pittsburgh). She pronounced her First Profession of Vows on June 24 th, 1959 at the Maryknoll Sisters Motherhouse in Ossining, NY and her Final Profession of Vows on June 24 th, 1965 also at the Maryknoll Sisters Motherhouse.
After making her First Vows, Sister Therese taught for one year at the Maryknoll Teachers College, Maryknoll, NY before going to medical school at St. Louis University, St. Louis MO where she earned her Doctorate of Medicine in 1964. She then completed her internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Elizabeth, NJ in 1964 and a Residency/Surgery at Carney Hospital, Boston, MA in 1965.
In 1967, Sister Therese received her first overseas assignment to Hong Kong. After studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Cantonese Language School, she ministered at Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital, Hong Kong. There, she was involved with family life education in the local community; served as a member of the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council and as a Natural Family Planning instructor. She also helped found the Pro-Life Action Association, whose mission was to foster public discourse on abortion and in-vitro fertilization legislation. For 30 years, Sister Therese responded to the many needs of the poor, young couples, newborns, elderly and infirm.
In 1995, Sister Therese returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she worked for eight years in the Communications Department before retiring in 2003.
Funeral Services:
A Vespers service will be held for Sister Therese on Wednesday, December 1st, 2021 at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. A Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, December 2nd, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.