(1930-2026)

In preparing my autobiography, I recognize that it is all about God’s love for me that has been there, guiding my life. I am very grateful that I have loved and served people of all ages and received love in return. And it is God’s love that will carry me Home.

Sister Thérèse Haggerty’s autobiography began with her reflecting on how the hand of God had long prepared her to become an Adrian Dominican Sister even though she spent thirty-one years of religious life in a different congregation, and it ended with the paragraph cited above. In between lies a fascinating life story.

Thérèse Mary Haggerty was born July 24, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York, to Hugh Alphonsus and Thérèse Ann (Fay) Haggerty, who was nicknamed Teddy. Both parents were of Irish descent; Hugh’s parents were born in County Donegal, Ireland, while Ann’s grandparents came from County Cork, Ireland, and settled in Boston.

Hugh, who left school in the sixth grade to help support his family, enlisted in the Army at age seventeen and was sent to France to fight in World War I. There, he was badly wounded and was actually thought to be dead until a nurse saw the sheet that was over him move.

He and Thérèse Ann met after the war on a train from Washington, D.C., to New York, when she was walking from one car to another, slipped, and he caught her. They were married in 1923 in Brooklyn.

The couple had two boys who both died in infancy before Thérèse was born. Before Thérèse arrived, her mother prayed to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus that if her baby was a girl and survived, she would name her Thérèse Mary. Even so, Thérèse’s nickname was always Peggy, after Thérèse Ann’s friend who was also named Thérèse but was called Peggy.

Two children followed Thérèse into the family: Hugh Aloysius (known as Buddy) and Helen Agnes. Hugh remarried two years after his wife died of cancer and three more children were born to him and Thérèse’s stepmother: Mary Jane, Patricia Ann, and Kathryn Marie.

Read more about Sister Thérèse (PDF)

Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI, 49221. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian.

Sister's Memorial Card (PDF)

Vigil and Funeral Recordings

Note: To view recordings with closed captioning, they must be viewed on our public video library rather than through the links below.

Recording of Sister Thérèse's Vigil Service - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

Recording of Sister Thérèse's Funeral Mass - After clicking the link, download the recording by right-clicking on the video choosing "Save video as." Worship Aid (PDF)

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