Sr. Therese Burns, SC, was named after St. Therese of Lisieux, who was canonized in 1925.

A native of Chicora, she entered the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill on September 8, 1951, from Mater Dolorosa Parish, Chicora. Her name in Religion, before going back to her baptismal name, was Sr. Dolorosa, after the name of the parish (Latin for “Mother of Sorrows”).

Sister earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration from
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Her educational ministries included schools in Pennsylvania and Arizona:
Elementary schools in the Diocese of Pittsburgh
St. Luke High School, Carnegie, PA, 1953-1956
Seton High School, Chandler, AZ, 1956-1958
Salpointe High School, Tucson, AZ, 1958-1963
Bishop Carroll High School, Ebensburg, PA, 1963-1965
Elizabeth Seton High School, Brookline neighborhood of Pittsburgh
Holy Innocents High School, Sheridan neighborhood in Pittsburgh
Monongahela Valley High School, PA, 1973-1974
In high school, Sister taught the commercial/business courses of
typing, shorthand, and bookkeeping.

Sr. Therese began a long tenure, 1974-1989, as assistant to the general treasurer of the
Sisters of Charity in Greensburg. From 1989-2002, she served as assistant manager of
St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality, a refuge for homeless men in Pittsburgh.
In 2002, she was named assistant to the Archivist for the Sisters of Charity.
Sister served in the Archives until she retired in 2013.

Generous, guileless, and fun-loving, Sr. Therese reflected, “Sharing in the committed life with the Sisters of Charity has given me the companionship of extraordinary women,
all dedicated to the same ideas and love of Jesus.”

Sr. Therese passed away Friday at Caritas Christi,
the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.

She was preceded in death by her parents John Anthony and Stella Gertrude (Blatt) Burns;
8 brothers: Rev. John A. CSSp., Charles W., Philip A., Regis P., Bernard L., Robert L.,
James F., and Thomas D.;
3 sisters: Catherine E. Burns, Mary E. Burns, and Agnes (William) Mahoney;
a niece, Sr. Margaret Burns, SC; and a cousin, Sr. Mary Frederick Blatt, SC.

She is survived by 2 sisters:
Sr. Mary Michael Burns, SC, and Patricia (John) Bogniak;
plus nieces and nephews.

Arrangements handled by Leo M. Bacha Funeral Home, Greensburg.
Funeral prayers at Bacha Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 19.
Burial directly from the funeral home.
Memorial Mass Saturday, October 17, 2020, at the Caritas Christi Chapel.
Celebrant: Msgr. William Rathgeb.

Information from the Sisters of Charity website and from Sr. Mary Michael Burns, SC.
Submitted by Member Angela (#48520699), friend of Sr. Mary Michael, SC.