Sister Mary Teresa Cotter

Hubbard - There will be a Mass of Christian Burial offered at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 19, at St. Anthony Church, Youngstown, for Sister Mary Teresa Cotter, 91, of the Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who died on August 7 at Liberty Arms Health Center.

Sister Mary Teresa was born June 23, 1926 in Austin, Minnesota, daughter of the late Richard M. Cotter and Rose A. McShane.  She is also preceded in death by two brothers Richard and Michael Cotter and five sisters, Sister Mary Adrienne, Sister Mary Estelle, Dorothy Langowshi, Jeanne Manthey and Cecilia Longtin. She is survived by several devoted nieces and nephews.

Sister Mary Teresa holds a special place in the hearts of her Oblate Sisters because she was the first American vocation to join the order of Italian Sisters in 1958.  She professed her first vows in 1959 and made her perpetual profession on August 15, 1964. She taught for twenty years in the Diocese of Youngstown in the Catholic elementary schools of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mc Donald, St. Anthony, Youngstown, and St. Frances Cabrini, Conneaut, also in Toronto, Canada at St. Roch parish.  Sister Mary Teresa also taught catechism throughout those years at various diocesan parishes and was a pastoral minister at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Youngstown for two years.  Sister Mary Teresa also briefly served at the priest retirement home, Emmaus House, in Louisville, Ohio.

Prior to entering the Oblate Sisters, Sister Mary Teresa earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1948 from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa.  She taught in the elementary and high school levels in Osage, Iowa and in Austin Minnesota.  She also taught at La Paz, Bolivia in South America. In 1973 she earned a Master of Arts Degree in Education from Youngstown State University, in Youngstown, Ohio.

Poor health required Sister Mary Teresa to retire from active ministry in 1989.  Sister Mary Teresa still continued to generously serve her religious community in its various activities while she was living at Villa Maria Teresa convent.  Sister Mary Teresa had a great love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and shared the Good News of God’s love for everyone through her extensive letter correspondence.  She sustained priests and countless others by prayerfully offering many sacrifices for their spiritual benefit.

We are especially grateful for the loving and skilled care given to Sister Mary Teresa by the staff at the Liberty Arms Health Care Center in Liberty, Ohio recently by Hospice of the Valley.  In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Oblate Sisters Ministries and sent to 50 Warner Road, Hubbard, Ohio 44425.  Or donate on www.oblatesistersofshj.com.  Calling hours are on Friday, August 18 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Oblate Sisters’ convent, Villa Maria Teresa, in Hubbard and at St. Anthony Church on August 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

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