Sister Theresa Flynn, (formerly known as Sister Mary Una), a beloved Sister of Saint Joseph, Chestnut Hill for 65 years, died on April 18, 2010 at Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia.
Born on February 8, 1926 to Katie and Patrick Flynn, Theresa was the youngest of five children. She was raised in Philadelphia and attended grade school at Saint Columba and Corpus Christi and graduated from Little Flower High School.
Theresa remembered her early family years with one story after another. Her parents’ Irish roots brought music and dance into her young life every Friday evening as she and her sisters learned the songs and steps to many Irish dances. Sunday afternoon family time was the occasion for walks and kite-flying lessons in Fairmount Park as well as watching boat races and fishing in the Schuylkill River.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph were part of Theresa’s life from her first years in school. She remembered so many of her teachers with fondness: Sister Anita Loretta, Mary Michael, Julia Augusta, Madeleine de Lourdes. She also remembered being sent to the principal’s office for talking too much! But Theresa recalled how kindly the principal, Mother Mary Andrew, treated her.
When Theresa graduated from high school and prepared to enter the Sisters of Saint Joseph, her mother assured her that if she became homesick and returned home, she would be welcomed with open arms, but that if she could overcome her homesickness and persevere, her mother would close her arms in an attitude of prayer and thanksgiving to God for her perseverance.
Theresa’s teaching ministry brought her to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Dioceses of Camden and Wilmington. She taught first grade for 41 years and in one mission was assigned to teach 132 children in one classroom! In order to reach them all it was decided that the class would be taught in two shifts—8:30 – 11:30 and 12:30 – 3:30.
Theresa seemed to love wherever she was missioned and whatever she was called to do. Sister Anne Myers offered in her reflection at the Mass of Christian Burial, “Theresa was filled with kindness, patience, simplicity, and joy, and she selflessly shared these gifts with her sisters in community, her family, and her students. . . Her patient love and care for others. . . endeared her to all.”
We remember with joy the life of Sister Theresa Flynn and we thank God for the gift that she was to us. We know that she will spend her life in eternity praising God whom she knew so well and loved so much. |
