Sister Theresa Mary McPartland, OP of the Dominican Sisters, Sparkill, New York, died on December 19, 2018 in Montefiore Nyack Hospital in Nyack, NY. She was 84 years old.
Born in New York, NY on August 31, 1934, Mary was the daughter of Myles and Bridget O’Neill McPartland. She entered the Dominican Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary in Sparkill on September 7, 1952 and received the name Sister Theresa Mary. She professed her first vows in 1954 and her final vows in 1959.
Sister Theresa Mary received her BA in Education from Fordham University, Bronx, NY, 1960; her MA in Business Education from Hunter College, New York, NY, 1972 and Certification in School Administration/Supervision from Fordham University, 1975.
Sister Theresa Mary taught in the Archdiocese of New York in St. John Chrysostom School, Bronx, NY (1954-1959); the Syracuse Diocese in St. Mary School, Fulton, NY (1959-1961). From 1961-1966, Sister Theresa Mary taught at Sts. Peter & Paul School, Easton, MD., Returning to the New York Sr. Theresa Mary taught at St. Helena School, Bronx, NY (1966-1967) and Thorpe Secretarial School, New York, NY (1967-1971). Sister served as Principal at St. Anthony School, Bronx,
NY (1971-1976); Assistant Principal, St. John Chrysostom School, Bronx, NY (1976-1978); Principal at St. Helena School, Bronx, NY (1978-1984). For ten years,
Sister Theresa Mary served as the Administrator of Dominican Convent, Sparkill, NY. From 1994-1995 Sister participated in the Career Options program at Calvary Hospital then was a staff member at Dowling Gardens, Sparkill, NY (1995-1996) Sister served in elected leadership, (1996-2000) and then became Director of Development at St. John Chrysostom School, Bronx, NY (2000-2006) before retiring.
Sister Theresa Mary McPartland is predeceased by her parents Myles and Bridget O’Neill McPartland. She is survived by her sister, Sr. Margaret McParland, OP and brothers Joseph (Kathleen) and John (Barbara) along with several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews whom she dearly loved.
Sister Theresa Mary McPartland was a kind and gentle woman who made a difference in the lives of those who knew her. She served her God and congregation faithfully for more than sixty-six years as a Dominican Sister of Sparkill. We thank God for her life and her goodness and we pray she may enjoy the fullness of life in the presence of the God she loved and so faithfully served. We will miss her presence among us.