In Memoriam: Sister Teresita Rodriguez, Sept. 11, 1936- Aug. 9, 2014

Sister Teresita Rodriguez, 77, Sister of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, was called to her eternal home Saturday, Aug. 9at Incarnate Word Convent in Corpus Christi, surrounded by her Sisters in her religious community, family and friends. She had spent several years in cancer treatment before choosing hospice in the final stages of the disease.

Born Sept. 11, 1936, in San Benito, Texas, she was the daughter of the late Manuel Rodriguez and Marina Garcia Rodriguez. From the time Teresita was old enough to understand the importance of participating in church services, she knew that her calling was to a life of serving Christ.

She graduated from Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi and entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Sept. 9, 1952. She made her first profession of vows July 31, 1954 and professed perpetual vows August 16, 1958. Sister celebrated her 60th anniversary of profession this year.

Sister Teresita received her bachelor degree from St. Edward's University in Austin, and her masters from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. She received an MEd degree in Administration from the Christian Brothers College in Memphis, Tennessee.

Ministry in the Catholic school system during Sister Teresita's six decades as an Incarnate Word Sister includes teaching and administration in Catholic schools located in Alice, Beeville, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Goliad, Laredo and Port Isabel. She was principal at St. Elizabeth School in Alice, Our Lady Star of the Sea in Port Isabel, Immaculate Conception School and Incarnate Word Academy in Brownsville.

Recently Sister Teresita taught religion to junior high students at Guadalupe Regional Middle School in Brownsville. Concurrent with that assignment, she worked with the Villa Maria/ Incarnate Word Academy Alumni Association, and with the Incarnate Word Associates.

She held membership in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and in the International Reading Association, and served on the Board of the Children's Museum in Brownsville. Sister Teresita served on numerous commissions and committees of the Congregation.

In 2012, the Diocese of Brownsville's Spirit Award was presented to Sister Teresita for exemplary dedication and commitment to Catholic education. This award was established to recognize those individuals who have dedicated themselves to the values and principals underlying Catholic education and who, through their energy, enthusiasm and service in outstanding support of Catholic education in the Rio Grande Valley, have helped others to achieve this goal.

Her parents, Manuel and Marina Rodriguez, and her brothers Daniel and Mauricio preceded Sister Teresita in death. She is survived by her sister, Beatrice Rodriguez of San Benito; her brothers, Carlos (Mauricia) of Brownsville; Hugo (Magda) of Brownsville; Cosme, and Luis Felipe (Michelle) of Austin; and many nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Incarnate Word Convent, 2930 South Alameda, Corpus Christ, Texas, on Monday, Aug. 11, at 1:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Corpus Christi.