Sister Theresa Munger

MARLBOROUGH Sister Theresa Munger, RGS (Sr. Mary of St. Margaret of Scotland), died at St. Patricks Manor in Framingham, on Aug. 11, 2008, after a long illness. She was 81 years of age and had been a Sister of the Good Shepherd for 56 years. Sister Theresa was born in Pittsfield, the daughter of George and Flora (Elser) Munger. Educated in Framingham and at St. Josephs School, Pittsfield, she graduated from Watertown High School in 1945. She received her associates degree in applied science with a major in recreation supervision from Orange County Community College in Middletown, N.Y., and her B. S. in human development, with a minor in counseling, from State University of NY (Empire State Division), Saratoga Springs, N.Y. After entering the Good Shepherd Novitiate, she began her formal training at St. Germaines Home in Peekskill, N.Y., where she also served as sacristan, as she prepared for her long career with the poor and marginalized of society, with special focus on teenage girls and women. Missioned to Morristown, N.J., her creative abilities found scope in many areas including teaching business math and religion, and vocational skills. At 17th Street in New York City, she worked with youngsters in detention, and continued to provide vocational training, before being missioned to Albany, N.Y., where she also offered vocational subjects, as well as teaching drama and sports to the youngsters at St. Annes Institute. In 1962, her skill with childrens activities led to the role of childcare supervisor in Villa Loretto, Peekskill, and she continued to teach drama and also served as recreational director there. Sister Theresas considerable experience and imagination led to the development of a widely used slide-tape presentation to guide teachers in seeing childrens activities as creative, self-directive and involving many discoveries. At Empire State, she developed the recreation program with great enthusiasm, making it a positive experience for her and the children. In 1971, she continued to exercise her Good Shepherd charisma in parish schools, namely St. Josephs Parish, Middletown, N.Y., where she served as a physical education instructor, a CCD teacher and conducted a social and counseling club. Following this, she became a physical education director, grades 1 through 8, at Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Marlborough, and taught art to 5th graders as well. For the next 10 years she served as a child care worker in Lowell, and also in Wellesley. In 1993, she retired and became involved in community service, and also worked with the elderly in Watertown and subsequently in Marlborough, where she served in congregational service at Good Shepherd Center. Sister Theresa celebrated her Golden Jubilee on September 8, 2001 at Good Shepherd Center, Marlborough, and later with family and friends in Watertown. Sister Theresa is survived by her sister, Margaret Burke of Natick, and her brother, Fred, of Watertown; many nephews and nieces and many faithful friends, including Don Shepherd and Emily Maitin, and their two children, Melissa and Jeremy, of Wellesley Hills. She was predeceased by four brothers, Harry, George, Walter, and Robert. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered for Sister Theresa by Rev. Robert Rivard at Good Shepherd Center Chapel, 406 Hemenway St., Marlborough, on Friday, Aug. 15, at 9 a.m. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 4 to 8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7 p.m., also at Good Shepherd Center Chapel. Additional calling hours will be held on Friday, Aug. 15, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at MacDonald, Rockwell & MacDonald Funeral Home, 270 Main St., Rte. 20, Watertown. Burial will take place immediately following at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Fitzgerald & Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln St., Marlborough (www.SFCFH.com.) Expressions of sympathy in Sister Theresas memory may be made to the Good Shepherd Retirement Fund, 406 Hemenway St., Marlborough, MA 01752. The Sisters of the Good Shepherd were founded by St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier in France in 1835, in the U.S. (Louisville, Ky.), 1843, Boston, 1867, and Harwichport, 1993.