Sister
Sister Teresa Atencio
d. December 13, 2015
Sister of Charity of Cincinnati
Teresa Atencio dies at age 82
Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Teresa Atencio died Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the age of 82 in Albuquerque, NM. Sister Teresa was born Virginia Teresa Atencio on October 3, 1933, to Federico and Ofelia (Peralta) Atencio in Socorro, NM. She was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 63 years. She was given the name Marie Dolores at first vows, but returned to her given name in the 1960s.
Sister Teresa attended St. Mary Elementary School and graduated from St. Mary High School, Albuquerque, in 1952; she was taught by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and she chose to enter the Sisters of Charity Community the fall of that same year. Sister Teresa remarked, on the occasion of her Jubilee, "I was impressed and affected by the kindness and cheerfulness of the Sisters who taught me; I made a spontaneous decision to explore this lifestyle. It has been a life rich in experiences."
Sister Teresa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1969. Sister taught in schools in Colorado, Ohio, Maryland and New Mexico throughout her more than 25 years in Catholic education. She began her teaching in 1954 in the primary grades at St. Joseph Orphanage in Cincinnati. Sister then ministered at St. Michael, Findlay, OH, 1956-'59; Divine Redeemer, Denver, CO, 1959-'64; Loyola, Denver, 1964-'66; St. Rose of Lima, Denver, 1966-'68; St. Patrick, Pueblo, CO, 1968-'69'; St. Mary, Albuquerque, 1969-'78, 1990-'91; Holy Redeemer, Kensington, MD, 1978-'79. In 1979 Sister Teresa moved to the Oakland, California Diocese and connected with Catholic Charities, where she found her gifts working with adults who were developmentally disabled. Sister Teresa both offered and received respect; she gave 11 years to this rewarding ministry.
In 1990 Sister Teresa returned to her beloved Albuquerque to assist with the care of family members, but remained active, teaching for one year, and then volunteering in health care settings including SET (Service, Empowerment, Transformation), providing wellness clinic opportunities for low-income seniors. She worked with the Jesuits in Mexico collecting data on babies who died of hunger and dehydration, bringing the high mortality rate to the attention of the Mexican government and the Catholic Church. She volunteered in a dental clinic for the homeless and with Cuidando Los Ninos, an agency caring for children of the homeless. To each setting Sister Teresa brought her desire for justice and non-discrimination.
Sister Barbara Muth, remembers her good friend's great sense of humor and spirit of adventure.
"We always laughed as we recalled past experiences of living together in 1968 at St. Patrick's in Pueblo, Colorado; we kept in touch by phone and visits whenever we happened to be in the same area of the country. Teresa was devoted to her family, especially her only sister Grace, of whom she spoke frequently," Sister Barbara said.
Sister Teresa is survived by nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Grace Silva; as well as brothers, Cruz, Jesus, Orlando, Gene, John, Fred and Phillip.
The rosary will be prayed on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 619 Copper Ave NW, with retired Bishop Arthur Tafoya presiding. Burial will be in the Sisters of Charity cemetery at Mount St. Joseph, Ohio.
Memorials may be made in Sister Teresa Atencio' s name to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Retirement Fund, 5900 Delhi Rd., Mount St. Joseph, Ohio 45051.
Teresa Atencio dies at age 82
Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Teresa Atencio died Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the age of 82 in Albuquerque, NM. Sister Teresa was born Virginia Teresa Atencio on October 3, 1933, to Federico and Ofelia (Peralta) Atencio in Socorro, NM. She was a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati for 63 years. She was given the name Marie Dolores at first vows, but returned to her given name in the 1960s.
Sister Teresa attended St. Mary Elementary School and graduated from St. Mary High School, Albuquerque, in 1952; she was taught by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and she chose to enter the Sisters of Charity Community the fall of that same year. Sister Teresa remarked, on the occasion of her Jubilee, "I was impressed and affected by the kindness and cheerfulness of the Sisters who taught me; I made a spontaneous decision to explore this lifestyle. It has been a life rich in experiences."
Sister Teresa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the College of Mount St. Joseph in 1969. Sister taught in schools in Colorado, Ohio, Maryland and New Mexico throughout her more than 25 years in Catholic education. She began her teaching in 1954 in the primary grades at St. Joseph Orphanage in Cincinnati. Sister then ministered at St. Michael, Findlay, OH, 1956-'59; Divine Redeemer, Denver, CO, 1959-'64; Loyola, Denver, 1964-'66; St. Rose of Lima, Denver, 1966-'68; St. Patrick, Pueblo, CO, 1968-'69'; St. Mary, Albuquerque, 1969-'78, 1990-'91; Holy Redeemer, Kensington, MD, 1978-'79. In 1979 Sister Teresa moved to the Oakland, California Diocese and connected with Catholic Charities, where she found her gifts working with adults who were developmentally disabled. Sister Teresa both offered and received respect; she gave 11 years to this rewarding ministry.
In 1990 Sister Teresa returned to her beloved Albuquerque to assist with the care of family members, but remained active, teaching for one year, and then volunteering in health care settings including SET (Service, Empowerment, Transformation), providing wellness clinic opportunities for low-income seniors. She worked with the Jesuits in Mexico collecting data on babies who died of hunger and dehydration, bringing the high mortality rate to the attention of the Mexican government and the Catholic Church. She volunteered in a dental clinic for the homeless and with Cuidando Los Ninos, an agency caring for children of the homeless. To each setting Sister Teresa brought her desire for justice and non-discrimination.
Sister Barbara Muth, remembers her good friend's great sense of humor and spirit of adventure.
"We always laughed as we recalled past experiences of living together in 1968 at St. Patrick's in Pueblo, Colorado; we kept in touch by phone and visits whenever we happened to be in the same area of the country. Teresa was devoted to her family, especially her only sister Grace, of whom she spoke frequently," Sister Barbara said.
Sister Teresa is survived by nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Grace Silva; as well as brothers, Cruz, Jesus, Orlando, Gene, John, Fred and Phillip.
The rosary will be prayed on Monday, December 21, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 619 Copper Ave NW, with retired Bishop Arthur Tafoya presiding. Burial will be in the Sisters of Charity cemetery at Mount St. Joseph, Ohio.
Memorials may be made in Sister Teresa Atencio' s name to the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Retirement Fund, 5900 Delhi Rd., Mount St. Joseph, Ohio 45051.
Service Details
Monday, December 21st, 2015, 9:00am, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
To send flowers to the family in memory of Sister Teresa Atencio, please visit our flower store.