Sr. Teresita Marie Nazario, IHM, 87, died on Monday, Dec. 24, 2018, at the IHM Senior Living Community in Monroe.

Sister Teresita was born on May 15, 1931, to Angel and Margarita Nazario. Her parents were natives of Puerto Rico, and, as such, she spent her early childhood in New York City and Puerto Rico. She was baptized Ethel Edith in Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Parish in Santruce, Puerto Rico. Ethel and her brother, Carlos, had much opportunity to grow in the heritage of Puerto Rico surrounded by extended family. She attended the parish’s elementary and high schools, graduating in 1951. She entered the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe in 1952 and received the religious name Sister Teresita.

Sister Teresita spent her early teaching ministry with elementary, often kindergarten, students at St. Joseph Dexter, Mich., Holy Trinity, Detroit, and San Joachin and Santa Teresita in Puerto Rico. She began collegial studies at the Catholic University of Puerto Rico and when returning to Michigan in the summers, she studied and earned a bachelor’s degree from Marygrove College. Her ministry in education continued in the late 1970s and 1980s as principal at Colegio Sagrada Familia and at Escuela Bella Vista, as well as teaching at Escuela Luis Pereira Leal and at San Augustin, Puerto Rico.  

In 1995, her ministry focus shifted to pastoral work while residing in Guaynabo and San Juan. As her health began to decline in 2006, Sister Teresita moved to the IHM Motherhouse (Monroe) to seek physical assistance and renew many friendships with the sisters of the Monroe community.

Sister Teresita was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sisters in community, and brother Carlos A. Nazario.  

Visitation will be held at the IHM Motherhouse, 610 W. Elm Avenue, Monroe, on Friday, Dec. 28, beginning at 9 a.m. A Remembering and Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. Burial will follow immediately in St. Mary Cemetery on the Monroe Campus. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Rupp Funeral Home, Monroe. Memorials may be made to the IHM Retirement Fund, 610 W. Elm Ave., Monroe, MI 48162-7909.