Obituary of Sr. Theresina Flannery

Sister Theresina Flannery, RSM age 89, died peacefully on October 23, 2016, at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. Sister Theresina was one of nine children born to George and Margaret Flannery in 1927. A native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, she attended St. Peter School in Pleasantville and Holy Spirit High School in Atlantic City graduating in 1944. She entered the Sisters of Mercy the following year and continued her education at Georgian Court College and Villanova University earning degrees in mathematics. She began teaching on the elementary level at St. John School in Lambertville, New Jersey, but moved to secondary level at Red Bank Catholic where she taught for 17 years before becoming assistant principal. Sister moved to the college level at Georgian Court in 1969 and taught there intermittently while she served as community director of sisters in temporary commitment and studied at the Institute for Spiritual Directors in Guelph, Ontario. In 1976 Sister Theresina was one of the co-founders of Mount St. Mary House of Prayer in Watchung. She served in the role of director for 10 years before her election as president of the community in 1986. After serving a second term as president of the Sisters of Mercy of New Jersey, she returned to the House of Prayer as co-director and also ministered to those at McAuley Hall Health Care Center. In 2005, Sister Theresina was honored with the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award and on September 18, 2016 at the 40th Anniversary Mass of Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer, she was honored for her dedication with a Cornerstone Award. A woman of many gifts, Sister served her community in challenging roles and in dramatic times. She was a key figure in the development of the House of Prayer from a carriage house to a popular retreat center that attracted members of the laity who formed lasting bonds with the community and one another. She served in leadership during the years just before and after the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas was founded. In recent years, she has resided at McAuley Health Care Center but remained actively engaged in community consultations and events. She is survived by in-laws, Alfred Rundio, Margaret Flannery and Dolores Flannery, and many loving nieces and nephews. Visitation will take place at McAuley Hall Health Care Center on Wednesday, October 26, 4-7 p.m., with a Welcome Home service at 4:30 p.m. and Remembrance service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will also be held at Mount Saint Mary on Thursday, October 27, 9-11 a.m., with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, South Plainfield, NJ Memorial donations may be made to Mount Saint Mary House of Prayer, 1651 Highway 22 West, Watchung, NJ 07069