Sr. Teresita Weind, SNDdeN
July 6, 1942 - April 28, 2024
Sr. Teresita Weind, a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, born in Columbus, OH, died peacefully on April 28, 2024, at the age of 81 years, in the 63rd year of her religious life. Her passing is mourned by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, her siblings, nieces and nephews, and many friends. Her parents preceded her in death. Sister’s ministry as nurse, educator, pastoral minister, and Province/Congregational leader took her to Chicago, IL; Saginaw, MI; Cincinnati, OH; and Rome, Italy.
A Memorial Mass will take place at Mount Notre Dame Health Center, 699 E. Columbia Ave., Cincinnati, OH (513-821-7448), on Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m. The Mass will be livestreamed, opening 15 minutes before the Mass at: https://youtube.com/live/ofJiTnK9f2A?feature=share. More information is available at: https://www.sndohio.org/sisters-notre-dame/blog/1633314/sister-teresita-weind-sndden.
A second Memorial Mass will take place in Columbus, OH, at a date yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Retirement Fund of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 701 E. Columbia Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45215. Funeral arrangements: Geo. H. Rohde & Son Funeral Home, 3183 Linwood Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208, Phone: 513-321-0404, www.rohdefuneral.com.
Obituary Links
- https://www.sndden.org/sister-teresita-weind-sndden/
- https://www.rohdefuneral.com/obituary/sr-teresita-weind-sndden
Below is and excert from the biography of Teresita Weind, SNDdeN from her time spent in the Diocese of Saginaw
by Kim Dalgarn, SNDdeN 4/2024
In 1991, as Teresita’s faith and love for the Church grew, she was seeking new ways to share God’s love with people. Among those who recognized her many unique gifts was Bishop Ken Untener (Diocese of Saginaw). Believing her skills would be perfect for neighborhood outreach and evangelization, he invited Teresita to Saginaw and offered her the former Sacred Heart church and rectory as a home base for her ministry. It was located in one of the most materially poor sections of the city with a heavily non-Catholic population. Teresita had no title, job description, or reputation she could build on with the community. She would simply be present with the people in the everyday moments of their lives. She accepted Bishop Untener’s invitation and started by simply walking the neighborhood, initiating conversations with people she met.
Soon Teresita joined people on their porches and introduced herself to parents and teachers as school days ended so they would know who she was and what she was about. She simply listened deeply and offered to pray with people. Known as the “prayer lady,” children would stop her on the street and ask her to pray for specific intentions. Because Sacred Heart Church did not have a weekend Mass, Teresita led a non-Eucharistic service each Sunday.
Teresita emphasized Sacred Heart as a non-violent zone in a city sometimes overwhelmed by violence. She created a safe space that respected the dignity of each person and provided a haven of peace for gatherings to share life and faith. Her way of preaching, teaching, listening, and evangelizing was deeply focused on and attentive to each person. In the process, she found the goodness of God in each one and mirrored it back, helping each one to overcome any barriers with God.
When the church building became a safety hazard and was demolished, Teresita continued her ministry in the rectory. Because the pastor of Saints Simon and Jude Parish recognized her ability to draw the community together when leading prayer or giving the homily, he invited her to take on some liturgical responsibilities and serve those in need. Teresita visited terminally ill parishioners daily and accompanied their families through the stages of dying, death, and burial.
In 2001, Teresita’s community asked her to come to Cincinnati to begin a Spirituality Center at Mount Notre Dame. This new endeavor responded to the thirst for spirituality among the laity and provided an opportunity to share the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur with a broader audience. Teresita
organized Saturday Mornings of Spirituality for Women of all ages. She also offered retreats, provided spiritual direction, and gave inspirational talks to many groups which took the ‘Spirituality Center’ beyond its physical boundaries. Her simple, compelling eloquence touched young, old, black, white, those faith-filled and faith-seeking.