Sister Theresa Cunningham, SNDdeN

Sister Theresa Cunningham, 96, of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, died Thursday, October 6, at the Notre Dame Long Term Care Center, Worcester.

Sister Theresa was born in Boston, daughter of Francis and Rose (Branley) Cunningham.  She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1945 as Sister Rose Francis.  She graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston with a degree in English and History. She went on to receive her master’s degree in Education Salem State College.  Sister also took many graduate study programs in visual arts.

Sister taught for many years at Notre Dame affiliated schools including St. Gregory Elementary and. St. Gregory High schools and the St. Ambrose School, all in Dorchester, and St. Mary School in Lawrence.  Later, she worked on the staff of The Pilot, the Boston Archdiocesan newspaper.

Sister leaves many nieces and nephews, and her sisters in religion, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.  She was predeceased by her sister Dorothy M. Curtis, and her brothers, Msgr. Richard G. Cunningham, Francis A. Cunningham Jr., and Thomas J., John P., William A., Philip J. and Edmund O. Cunningham. 

There will be a visitation period Thursday, October 13, from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at the Notre Dame du Lac Chapel, 555 Plantation St. Worcester.  The funeral Mass will follow at 2:30 p.m.  Burial in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Roxbury will be private. 

Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 351 Broadway, Everett, MA 02149.