Sister Mary Teresa Nies

Funeral Services and Mass of the Resurrection for Sister Mary Teresa Nies, 73, of the Carmelite Monastery, Eldridge, Iowa, will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2005, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, Long Grove, Iowa. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at St. Ann's Church, where a Christian Wake Service will be offered at 7 p.m. Sister Mary Teresa Nies died Saturday, March 12, 2005, at the Kahl Home, Davenport.
Sister Mary Teresa was born in Sydney, Australia, to Noreen Bernadette and Theo Brown and was later adopted by Edith Elizabeth Nies. Sister Nies attended school at St. Martha in Sydney, (Strathfield) and later took up studies at St. Mary's in Concord and Stotts Business College.
At age 18, Sister Nies elected to play cricket in England, Sir Lanka and India. Sister Mary Teresa was also involved in the New South Wales Women's Amateur Sports Association and was the foundress of the Western Suburbs Basketball Association. In 1981, Sister left sports and went to Mysore, India, where she founded "Mary's Institute", a home for disadvantaged children. Sister Nies opened a school in Ranchi.
Following this venture, Sister Mary Teresa came to America and entered the Carmelite Monastery in Eldridge, on Jan. 9, 1991. On Aug. 22, 1993, Sister was admitted to First Profession of Vows. On Aug. 24, 1996, Sister made her Final Profession of Vows.
During her time at the Monastery, one of Sister's many tasks was that of answering the phone and the doorbells. She, thus, became acquainted with many friends in the area.
Memorials may be made to the Carmelite Monastery, Eldridge, or to Beacon of Hope Hospice.
Sister Mary Teresa is survived by her brother, Carl O'Brien, in Sydney; her nephew, J. Michael Fields, in England; and many cousins.
Halligan McCabe De Vries Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements. Online remembrances and condolences may be expressed by visiting Sister's obituary at www.hmdfuneralhome.com