Theresa Catalano was born on October 4th, 1932 in New York City. While attending Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ozone Park, NY she first encountered the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk. She went on to enter the congregation at the age of 18 and professed her final vows 6 years later, becoming known as Sr. Teresita.

With a degree in Secondary Education and Music Education, she embarked on a legendary teaching career that combined her gentle love of children, love of music, and deep dedication to faith. She taught at Nativity BVM, Our Lady of Victory (West Haven, CT), and Our Lady Star of the Sea (Stamford, CT) and served as principal at Nativity BVM and Our Lady of Grace (Howard Beach, NY). She also served the congregation in Blue Point and Catholic Charities.

While Sr. Teresita touched the lives and hearts of thousands of students and their families, nowhere was she more beloved than in the St. William the Abbot community in Seaford, NY. She was an active parishioner and music teacher in the parish school for many years, often teaching multiple generations of the same family. In her retirement, she continued to give piano lessons to children of the parish.

Sr. Teresita rarely forgot a student, even as they aged well into adulthood. She instilled in all of them a sense of confidence, appreciation for music, and above all else, a love of God.

While preparing for Sr. Teresita’s 70th Jubliee in 2020, her lifelong friend, Sr. Mary Joan of Arc Spelman recalled “Sr. Teresita is an intelligent woman who does not hurry to speak, enjoys a good laugh, and has a sense of humor. She is sensitive to others and has a remarkable memory for events, names, and prayer requests.”

Sr. Teresita returned home to the Lord on April 28th, 2022. In addition to the Ursuline Sisters, she is survived by her sister, Betty Vecchione, and her nieces and nephews who loved her dearly.

At the time of her death, she had been an Ursuline Sister of Tildonk for 72 years.

She will be waked on Sunday, May 1st at St. William the Abbot Church from 5pm-7pm and her funeral will follow on Monday, May 2nd at 10:45am.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Ursuline Sisters of Tildonk.