Maryknoll, NY: Sister Teresa Ann Lilly, M.M. died on July 25^th, 2022 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY. She was 94 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 66 years.

Teresa was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 28^th, 1927, to Joseph Lilly and (Norton) Lilly. She had one brother, J. Francis Lilly, who has pre-deceased her.

From 1941-1945, Teresa attended St. Agnes Academy, College Point, NY where she was a member of the Leo Honor Society. After graduation she began nurse training at St. Catherine’s Hospital, Brooklyn, NY where she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1948.  She continued working on the nursing staff at St. Catherine’s for the next eight years, during that time she also studied at St. John’s University in Brooklyn.

On September 2^nd, 1956, Teresa entered the Maryknoll Sisters Novitiate, Maryknoll, NY. She pronounced her First Vows on June 24^th, 1959 at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY and her Final Vows on June 24^th, 1965 in Guatemala, Central America.

In 1960 she received her first overseas mission assignment to Guatemala and after six months of language study at Monte Maria she moved to San Pedro Necta where she did clinic work from 1961-1968. She then relocated to Ilopango, San Salvador where she worked with adult groups to aid the development of Basic Christian Communities until 1973.

In 1974, Sister Teresa returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY where she worked in the Congregation’s Development Department doing mission education and promotion work for two years. In 1976 she was assigned back to Guatemala where she worked on the Diocesan Level of women formation in the town of San Pedro Sacatepéquez until 1982. From there, she went to Santa Elena, El Petén, a jungle area, working in women formation in another Diocese from 1982 – 1986. Once again she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY in 1986 where she worked in Congregational Health Services until 1989.

For the last time Sister Teresa returned to Guatemala where she continued to work with women’s groups and aid with the development of Basic Christian Communities in El Milagro and San Jose until 2004.

Sister Teresa then retired and was assigned to the Maryknoll Sisters Retirement House in Monrovia, CA where she did volunteer work in “Rainbows End” and “Foothill Unity” clothing distribution until 2012.  In 2013 she returned to the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY, where she remained until her death.

Funeral Services:

A Vespers service will be held for Sister Teresa on August 1^st at 4:15 p.m. in the Chapel of the Annunciation at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Maryknoll, NY.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on August 2^nd at 10:00 a.m. also at the Maryknoll Sisters Center.