Sister Mary Theresa Nessi, SNJM

Mary Theophane

November 18, 1919–October 23, 2010 (Los Gatos, CA)

Departed this life October 23, 2010 at Convent of the Holy Names in Los Gatos, CA. She celebrated 90 years of life and 71 years of her religious profession. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 7:15 p.m. at Convent of the Holy Names, Los Gatos.

Mary Theresa Nessi was born November 18, 1919, in Oakland, California, to Joseph Nessi and Mary Manfrina Nessi. She was the first born of her five siblings, Joseph, Louis, Paul, Thomas and Catherine.

Mary’s parents were loving and devoted to their six children. This was an Italian family who valued strong ties with their immediate and extended families.  Mr. and Mrs. Nessi raised the children in a strict Catholic environment and taught Christian values by their own example.

Mary received her elementary education from the Sisters of the Holy Names at Sacred Heart School in Oakland and her secondary education at Holy Names High School.

Although Mary had a strong desire to enter a contemplative community, she was advised by her pastor Monsignor Sampson to enter the community whom she knew and who had been her teachers. In May of 1937, she wrote to Mother Mary Redempta, Provincial Superior, “For several years I have considered being a Sister. Now that I am seventeen and a senior in high school I have decided that I wish very much to be a Sister of the Holy Names.” She entered the novitiate of the Sisters of the Holy Names on July 22, 1937, and made her profession on August 5, 1939.  Mary’s religious name, Sister Mary Theophane, was one she never liked because she said her students could not relate to it, spell it, nor remember it. Often times when asked their teacher’s name, students were known to respond, “Cellophane…or something like that!” A glorious day for Sister Mary Theophane was the day she became identified as Sister Mary!  She made her final profession on August 5, 1944, at College of the Holy Names Chapel in Oakland.

In 1939, Sister Theophane began teaching elementary music at St. Clement in Ocean Park. Two years later she was assigned to St. Monica, then to Ramona Convent and Marylrose in Oakland.  In 1948, she began teaching  elementary second, third and fourth grades at various schools…St. Anselm in Anselmo, St. Joseph in San Francisco, St. Mary in Los Gatos, St. Cecilia in San Francisco and St. Monica in San Francisco. However, her teaching career was interrupted at various times due to illness and recuperation after surgery.

In 1958, a major surgery affected her voice, and Sister Mary found it difficult to speak. She was required to adopt a less strenuous schedule and was asked to study for her certification in library science, which she obtained from the University of San Francisco in 1964. For ten years in this new ministry, she served at Marin Catholic and Holy Names High School.  In 1974, Sister Mary was assigned to Holy Names College where she utilized her combined music education and library science skills to serve as music librarian until 1981.

Throughout her years in ministry, Sister responded in obedience to her assignments, accepting these as God’s will, and doing so in spite of the challenges of ill health, which she endured for many years of her religious life.  She wrote that she did not enjoy teaching except in the area of music.  Sister Helen O’Sullivan wrote, “I enjoyed having Sr. Mary Theophane as my music teacher when I attended Ramona Convent. Her gentle disposition was deeply appreciated during my piano lesson. She encouraged my efforts and I looked forward to my music lesson and having her for my music teacher.  We became good friends and both of us appreciate Bach.” Sister also enjoyed the quiet atmosphere of her days in the library.

Always, deep within Sister Mary’s heart, was the desire to live the contemplative spirit.  She fostered a life of prayer, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation and reading spiritual books, including Saints Teresa and John of the Cross. She found peace and joy during her experiences at Saint Anselm House of Prayer, which she describes as “my favorite assignment by choice” and at Emmanuel House at the Los Gatos Villa. In her prayers for family, community and others, she asked that they might find ways to live in peace and spread God’s love and joy.  Sister’s wish was to make God known and loved in the hearts and lives of all those whom she touched each day.

Beginning in 1981 and the years which followed, Sister Mary devoted her time to retreat ministry at the Villas in Los Gatos and Santa Cruz, and lastly at Convent of the Holy Names, where she was known as a steady beacon of graciousness and hospitality.  She radiated a peace, which came from her love of prayer connecting her to God.  With her kind, unassuming watchfulness, she had a gentle way of assisting others, especially the weak, the forgetful and the confused.  She possessed a unique talent for enabling others to find God within.

In 2001, Sister Mary began her retirement years in the Care Center. Many remember her daily walking the third floor hall with her walker.  Like the Psalmist, she was probably speaking to her God, “Your word is a lamp that gave light wherever I walked.” Although unable to converse, she had a contented, peaceful smile that was reassuring to her sister Catherine and other visitors that all was well and she was at peace. Many recall how the promise of a dish of ice cream could lift her spirit and bring a smile to her face!

After a few falls, Sister was moved to the first floor so she could more easily be observed and assisted. At different times when it appeared that Sister Mary was failing, hospice was called, but each time she and God proved that her mission on earth had yet to be completed. Early in October, Mary came down with shingles, which were very painful and uncomfortable. Again, hospice came and assisted her to the end of her life’s journey. Sister Catherine and the Sisters at Los Gatos kept vigil for several days until God called Sister Mary at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2010. She was 90 years of age and celebrated 71 years of religious profession.