Sister M. Teresina Perse, IHM

Sister M. Teresina Perse, IHM, of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary died on Saturday, August 26, 1911, at Marywood Seminary in Scranton, PA.

She was born on October 13, 1883 in Plymouth, PA, and given the name Genevieve. She was the daughter of Mary Coon Perse and the late James V. Perse. She entered the IHM Congregation on October 15, 1902, received the religious habit on July 2, 1903, and made profession of her vows on August 15, 1905.

Sister Teresina’s early death cut short her life of ministry to orphaned children. Shortly after being professed, Sister worked in the infirmary of St. Joseph’s Foundling Home in Scranton, PA. In 1909, she was one of the first sisters sent from Mt. St. Mary’s in Scranton to St. John’s Home for Boys in Cresson in the Diocese of Altoona. Sister Teresina ministered at St. John’s Home for two years and she dearly loved her “motherless little ones” as she called them. Realizing that death was imminent, the only anxiety that she expressed was her fear that the one who would replace her would not love them as she had.

Bishop Eugene Garvey of Altoona wrote a letter to Mother Cyril shortly after Sister Teresina’s death expressing his condolences. It is clear that he was deeply impressed by her life, her love for the children to whom she ministered and her resignation as she faced death. In her reply, Mother Cyril’s expressed her gratitude to the bishop for his visit to Sister Teresina as she neared death and for his testimonial to this young sister’s beautifully lived life of Christian service.

In addtion to her mother, Mrs. Mary Perse, she is survived by a brother, James W.; three sisters, Margaret Mary O’Donnell, Mary Frawley, and Loretta Perse; nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be Monday, August 28, at 9:30 a.m. with a requiem high mass in the Marywood Seminary chapel. Interment will follow at the Marywood College Cemetery, on the grounds of Marywood College in Scranton, PA.