Sister Teresa of Carmel Grant csn (Mary Elizabeth Grant) was born on January 1, 1927 in Kilderry, Co. Donegal, Ireland. When she was very young, her Mother died and although she was raised by her wonderful Grandmother, Father and Aunts, felt that lose all her life. She would often say that she looked forward to Heaven where she could see her Mother again.
She grew up in Ireland and on February 1, 1949 at the age of 24 travelled by boat to London, England to enter religious life with the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth. She was professed on May 24, 1951.
In 1952 she came to America to minister in our Nazareth House in Van Nuys California. She became an American citizen in 1958. During her time in America she lived and ministered in many Nazareth Houses including Los Angeles, San Diego, San Rafael and Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Her ministries included childcare, nursing of the elderly and leadership roles within the various Nazareth Houses. In the early seventies she returned to college to study Nursing and Administration.
Sister Teresa was a woman of great faith and trust in God. She was very prayerful and deeply committed to her spiritual life. She had her priorities very clear. She had a special devotion to Our Lady, especially our Lady of Knock. When she was seventy-eight years old, she walked with her niece Margaret, 136 miles from Derry to Knock, Ireland
Because she received the name Teresa at her reception into the Sisters of Nazareth, she developed a devotion the ‘Little Flower’ St. Therese of the Child Jesus and strove in her own life to imitate her simplicity.
Sister had a great love for her Irish roots and deep love for her family in Ireland. They were a big part of her life. She is loved by many nieces and nephews in Ireland and around the world. She enjoyed Irish music and Irish storytelling and had many Irish sayings that she would share with the other Sisters.
Sister had a kind and sincere personality; she would welcome all with a smile and was always interested in how you were doing.
Sister is survived by her many nieces, nephews and cousins in Ireland and around the world, as well as her Nazareth community of Sisters, residents, staff and families.
We will celebrate her life on Sunday evening February 2, 2020 with a viewing from 4 to 6 pm at our Nazareth Chapel followed by a scriptural Rosary. Her Mass of Resurrection will be the following morning at Nazareth Chapel at 9:30 followed by interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in San Rafael.
The Sisters of Nazareth would like to thank all who were so good to Sister Teresa in her final years and most especially our wonderful staff at Nazareth House, San Rafael. We are deeply grateful for your love and care of Sister and will always remember you in our prayers.
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