Mary Therese Maher

Born: Mary Therese Maher on June 28, 1925 Died: October 21, 2016 in the St. Clare Community of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse Daughter of James and Mary (Beckwell) Maher of Syracuse, NY. Mary Therese was received into the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse on August 15, 1944 and professed her final religious vows on August 16, 1951. For more than 65 years, Sister Mary Therese was devoted to the life and mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. She attended grade school at St. Patrick's and St. Anthony's, and high school at St. Patrick's, all in Syracuse, where she graduated in 1943. She attended Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, and St. Elizabeth's Teacher's College (now a part of St. Bonaventure University), where she received a Bachelor's in Education in 1958. Mary Therese continued her studies at St. Bonaventure University, Cortland State in Cortland, NY, Albany State College in Albany, NY, and the University of Detroit, where she earned a Master's in Mathematics in 1968. Sister Mary Therese ministered in education for most of her religious life. She served as a teacher at St. Margaret Mary in Rochester, NY; St. Joseph's in Lakeland, FL; St. Bonaventure Town School in Allegany, NY; St. Mary's in Cortland, NY; St. Mary's in Rome, NY; Blessed Sacrament in Utica, NY; Little Flower in Fort Myers, FL; and St. John's in West Islip, NY. While at St. John's, Sister served as chairperson of the math department, moderator for the National Honor Society, and Vice President and President of the Suffolk County Math Teacher Association. Mary Therese also served as Principal at Our Lady of Fatima in Piscataway, NJ and St. Anthony in New York City. Sister moved into pastoral ministry, serving as Coordinator of Revenue Enhancing Activities for St. Ann Convent in Lawrenceville, NJ; Director of Pastoral Care at St. Francis Barry Nursing Home in Miami, FL; and ministering in Pastoral Care at St. Agnes Parish, Blackwood, NJ. Sister Mary Therese served as the Local Minister in Haddonfield, NJ, until she retired in 2008. For the next five years, she lived at Christ the King Convent in Snyder, NY. Mary Therese was welcomed warmly home to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in 2013. Sister Mary Therese is predeceased by her parents; three brothers, Joseph, James, and Robert; and one sister, Anne (Maher) Wirtz. She is survived by a sister, Patricia (Maher) Kracker, and many nieces and nephews. A Wake Service is scheduled in the Chapel at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, Allegany, NY, at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2016. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, October 27. 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, followed by burial in St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY. The funeral arrangements are under the direction of Letro-McIntosh-Spink Funeral Home, Inc. 646 East State Street, Olean, NY.