Sister Teresa Harrington, O.S.B., 1927-2012

Sister Teresa Ann (Theresa Jane) Harrington, O.S.B., 84, of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, at the monastery.

A Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. on Friday in the Chapel of St. Mary Monastery, Rock Island.  Burial is at Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 – 7 p.m. today at the monastery, where a Christian wake service will be help at 7 p.m..  Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Milan is in charge of arrangements.  Memorials may be made to St. Mary Monastery, 2200 88th Ave. W, Rock Island, IL  61201.

Theresa Jane Harrington was born on June 30, 1927, in Urbana, Ill., the daughter of Earl and Genevieve Eddy Harrington.  She attended Holy Cross School, Champaign, ILL., and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, Nauvoo, Ill.  She received a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Illinois, Champaign, and a master’s degree in theology from St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minn.

Sister Teresa Ann entered the Benedictine community on Sept. 8, 1946, and made her first profession as a Benedictine Sister on July 12, 1948.  Her ministry included teaching piano, organ, voice and choral groups at St. Boniface School in Peoria and St. Mary’s Academy in Nauvoo, as well as teaching high school religion at Bergan High School in Peoria.  She had served as Novice Director at St. Mary Monastery and was Prioress of the Monastery from 1972 to 1980.  Sister Teresa Ann served as a Pastoral Associate at St. Pius X Parish, Rock Island, after which she ministered at St. Mary Monastery as Director of the Temporary Professed Sisters, Liturgy and Music Director, and Spiritual Director.

She is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald and Peggy Porter and Thomas and Andrea Harrington; her Benedictine Sisters; and nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother W. Kenneth Porter.