Obituary: Lopez, Sp, Maria Teresa
Vigil Service: Sunday, July 7, 2013, 7:00 pm, St. Joseph Residence, 4800 37th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA.
Funeral Mass: Monday, July 8, 2013 11:00 am, same location.
Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, WA following the Mass and luncheon.
Bonney-Watson Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
She was the fifth of nine children born to Alejo Lopez and Emilia Orbino on February 25, 1922 in San Miguel, Manila.
She was named Consolacion Lopez but later changed her name to Maria Teresa Lopez.
She attended primary and elementary grades at Legards Elementary School and graduated from Mapa High School in Manila in 1940.
Sr. Maria Teresa was employed by the Red Cross for nine years where she worked in the Military Welfare Service Department.
She also worked as a secretary to the General Manager of the Warner-Chilcott Laboratories in Manila.
She came to the United States in August 1960, entered the novitiate of the Sisters of Providence on July 18, 1961 and made her first profession on August 19, 1963 and her final vows on July 27, 1968 in Great Falls, MT.
Academic accomplishments: BS, Commerce, Far Eastern University, Manila, Philippines, 1950; BA, Social Science, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington, 1964; MSW, Social Work and Case Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1970.
Sr. Maria Teresa was named to the Philippine Sector of the Sisters of Providence on October 1, 1992.
During her time there, she served six years as Councilor of the Philippine Sector.
On January 30, 2003, she transferred to Mother Joseph Province and retired to Mount St. Joseph in Spokane, WA.
Work/Ministry Assignments: Business Office Student/Patient Visitor/Social Work/Home Care/Bookkeeping, Director of Social Services, Columbus Hospital, Great Falls, MT, 1964-76; Director of Social Service Department, St. John Hospital, Longview, WA, 1977-78; Social Work Consultant, Rural Missionaries, Manila, Philippines, 1979-90; East Coast Migrant Head Start Program, Okeechobee, FL, 1984-85; Volunteer work with refugee resettlement, Spokane, WA, 1991; Pastoral Care Worker, Philippines, 1992-95; Parish Ministry of Ina ng Laging Saklolo Parish in Punta, Sta.
Ana, Manila, 1993-2001.
Sr. Maria Teresa is preceded in death by her parents and six siblings.
She is survived by one sister, Purificacion Tayson, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines, and one brother, Rizal Lopez, San Donesio, Parnaque City, Philippines, and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
To view Sr. Maria Teresa’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com.