Sisters of St. Joseph

Serving God and the Dear Neighbor without Distinction

Serving God and the dear neighbor
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Mission
    • History
    • Our Stories
      • Dear Neighbor Magazine
    • Our Sisters
      • Jubilarians
      • In Loving Memory
    • Our Federation
  • What We Do
    • Spirituality Center
    • Justice and Peace
    • Ecology
    • Prayer
    • Sustainability
    • Partners in Mission
      • Boys Hope Girls Hope
      • Casa San José
      • Pets with Heart
      • Sisters Place
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Sister
    • Join the Associates
    • Join the Auxiliary
    • Be a Volunteer
    • Find Employment
    • Calendar
  • Support Us
    • Donate Now
    • Gift Shop
    • Memorial/Tribute Cards
    • Planned Giving
    • United Way
    • Auxiliary Spring Luncheon
    • Faith.Field.Feast.
  • Contact Us
    • Visit Us
    • Send a Note
    • Join Our Mailing List
    • Prayer Requests
    • News

Sister Therese Melucci

March 30, 2019 By Sisters of St. Joseph

Sister Therese Melucci Sister Therese (Regina Marie) Melucci, CSJ, 77, died Saturday, March 30, 2019, in the 59th year of her religious life as a Sister of St. Joseph. The daughter of the late Donato and Michelina Principe Melucci, Sister Therese entered the Congregation from St. Catherine of Siena parish in Pittsburgh.

For nearly four decades, Sister Therese was an early childhood educator in the Dioceses of Pittsburgh, Greensburg and Altoona-Johnstown. Her longest teaching ministries were at Our Lady of Victory School in State College, PA (1970-1974), Annunciation in Pittsburgh (1979-1986), and Mount Gallitzin Academy (MGA) in Baden (1974-1979 and 1994-2009). She also ministered as Motherhouse Coordinator from 1986 to 1994.

An ever-present volunteer, Sister Therese always stepped up wherever she was needed – at Liturgy, at a fund-raising event, or at the bedside of a sick Sister. Known for her warmth and hospitality, Sister Therese was a model of compassion, generosity and faith not only for the countless children she taught but to all whom she encountered daily with a radiant smile and promise of prayers. During her 50th Jubilee celebration, Sister Therese reflected: “One of the most significant ways that I have responded to God’s call is through the education of young children. I have been privileged to walk with many children at a tender and impressionable age.”

She believed that children have a natural attraction to Jesus, and she emulated that closeness to Jesus. To ease the transition for new kindergarten students and their parents, Sister Therese personally visited their homes prior to the MGA school year to build home-school relations. She instilled the “I Care” rules in young children in hopes of planting seeds of tolerance and love, and she fostered in them a reverence for the beauty of the Baden grounds.

“It is essential to love and respect the individual differences among us as members of the world community,” she wrote in her Jubilee reflection.” I see all of us as one with the Earth and, as a result, we are called to use its resources with great care. This is a relationship of union and reconciliation with all of creation.”

Preceded in death by four sisters, Sister Therese is survived by eight nephews: Fred (Donna) Pollastrini of Sandy, OR, Dan Pollastrini (Bob, deceased) of West Middletown, PA, Larry Pollastrini (Brian) of Pittsburgh, PA, Anthony (Janis) Paterra of Bridgeville, PA, Tad (April) Paterra of Canonsburg, PA, David (Lisa) Paterra of McMurray, PA, Bob (Denise) Paterra of Pittsburgh, PA, Mid (Maria) Paterra of Cheswick, PA, great-nieces and nephews, the Associates and the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Friends will be received Monday, April 1 from 1 p.m.to the close of the Prayer Vigil and Tuesday, April 2 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Prayer Vigil will be Monday, April 1 at 6 p.m.at the Motherhouse. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Tuesday, April 2 at 4 p.m. Burial will follow in the Sisters’ Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds. Donations in the name of Sister Therese may be sent to the Sisters of St. Joseph Memorial Fund, Development Office, 1020 State St., Baden, PA, 15005.

Make a donation in memory of Sister Therese.

Filed Under: In Loving Memory

FacebookYouTubeInstagram

Donate now

Request a prayer

Join our mailing list

Send a note

Contact Us

Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden
1020 State Street
Baden, Pennsylvania 15005
Phone: 724-869-2151
Fax: 724-869-3336

Login

Sisters & Associates Login

Sisters & Associates Directory Login

Employee Login

Site Search

Copyright by Sisters of St. Joseph. All rights reserved. Site design by The Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management.