Theresa Moher was born in Peterborough, Ontario on June 6, 1928 the fifth of seven children of Albert Moher and Ann Condon. She attended Peterborough Teachers’ College and began her teaching career in September 1946 in Douro, then in Wellesley, Belleville and Toronto.
On September 15, 1954 she entered the postulancy of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul in Kingston. As a postulant she taught at St. John’s School, Kingston until March 1955 when she began her novitiate training. After her first profession of vows, she returned to the classroom at St. Mary’s School, Chesterville. In 1958 she went to St. Francis’ School, Smiths Falls and in 1964 she went to St. Michael’s Academy in Belleville to teach Grade 9 Religion, English and Typing. In 1967 she was assigned to St. Mary’s School in Camrose, Alberta to teach Junior High School Religion and English. The following year she became a Parish Worker, a new concept introduced in the parish. This work led to home visits, visiting the sick, helping with Catechetics on an individual basis, attending CWL meetings and Parish Council meetings. Most of her help was given to individual parents and children in their homes in preparation for the sacraments. In an attempt to update adults and help them understand the teachings of Vatican II, she set up Reflection groups throughout the parish and went from group to group in the evenings. In the summer of 1969, she took two university courses in Family Life through the University of Ottawa at Thunder Bay. This prepared her for the work she began in 1970 with the Edmonton Separate School System where she was involved with the writing of a Family Life Curriculum and in piloting the program in Cartier-McGee Louis St. Laurent School in Edmonton.
In 1972 – 1973 she attended the University of Windsor where she completed nine courses toward her B.A. degree. Upon returning to Edmonton, she was assigned to St. Cecilia Junior High School where she continued her work in Christian Family Life Education for the next five years. During this time, she completed an Honours B.A. from the University of Windsor. In 1978 she went to Guatemala and remained there until August 1980. In September that year she went to Nicholson Catholic College in Belleville to teach Religion, English and Typing. The following year she went to Peru where she remained for five years.
Between 1985 and 1992 she spent a few months at a House of Affirmation for personal growth and development. Then while completing a Masters’ Degree in Pastoral Sciences and Individual Counselling, she worked as a volunteer at the Catholic Immigration Reception House for Refugees in Ottawa.
From 1992 – 1993 she worked for the Catholic Family Services in Toronto counselling Latin American persons with a focus on family violence. After a year she left the agency because of cut backs and lack of funding. While this loss was difficult for her, it gave her time to deal with a disability, Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction with which she had been diagnosed six months earlier. As well she struggled with Candida and Epstein-Barr virus. As she began to recover and to discern her energy level, she was invited to join other groups working with Latin American immigrants in Toronto. She joined the Latin American Coalition to Eradicate Violence in the Spanish Community working with women and children suffering from violence and abuse. She also became involved with the “Out of the Cold” program. As a member of Holy Rosary Parish, she was a member of the Social Justice Committee through which she had the opportunity to educate and raise the awareness of the many social problems and their underlying causes. Development and Peace invited her to be a full-time participant on the Toronto Council.
In the fall of 2010 Sister Theresa underwent heart surgery in Toronto followed by intense rehabilitation. She moved to the Motherhouse on November 23, 2014.
Sister Theresa died peacefully at Kingston General Hospital on May 18, 2023.
Her interest in people and the social issues that affect them remained her greatest concern. Everyone was a neighbour to her. She also remained passionate about environmental issues. She loved her family and they loved her.
The Mass of Christian Burial, held in the Chapel of Mary Mother of Compassion, Providence Motherhouse on May 24, 2023 was presided over by Msgr. Joseph Lynch who also delivered the homily. Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Kingston.