A funeral Mass for Sister Theresa Marie Braun was celebrated Jan. 11 in the chapel of the Ruma Center in Ruma, Ill. Sister Theresa Marie died Jan. 7 at the Ruma Center. She was 93 years old and a professed member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for 76 years.
Born in Chester, Ill., she made first profession in 1943 and final vows in 1948. Sister Theresa Marie earned a bachelor’s degree in speech therapy with a minor in education from Saint Louis University in 1960, and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of St. Mary in Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1965.
Sister Theresa Marie taught nearly every grade in elementary school and frequently served as principal. In Missouri, she served at St. Joseph School in Neier in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and in St. Augustine in Kelso, Guardian Angel in Oran and St. Agnes in Springfield.
In Illinois, she taught and was house mother at the former Catholic Children’s Home in Alton. She taught and/or served as principal at eight schools. Sister Theresa Marie also was superintendent of schools for the Clinton County (Illinois) School District No. 63 in Albers.
She was liaison to the Adorers’ Associates, the spiritual leader of the sisters at the Ruma Center, and director of mission integration at St. Clement (now Red Bud Regional) Hospital in Red Bud, Illinois. Her final ministry was as director of Food Pantry Services for Catholic Charities in Quincy, Illinois.
Survivors include her sisters Charlene A. Kogler and Bernadette Dignan. Burial was in the Ruma Center cemetery.
