January 7, 1940 – May 9, 2025
Sister Therese Marie Müller, age 85, died on May 9, 2025 at SSM Franciscan Courts, Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Sister Therese Marie, born on January 7, 1940, during WWII, in Brey, Germany, was one of two children born to Karl and Regina (Graf) Müller. She was named and baptized Kreszentia. She had a twin brother, Lambert. Kreszentia entered the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Abenberg, Germany, on September 25, 1956, and professed first vows on August 12, 1960, in Abenberg, receiving the name Sister Therese Marie. She came to the United States on June 14, 1961.
As a Sister of the Sorrowful Mother, Sister Therese Marie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern Languages from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey and then began her ministry in education in Denville, NJ where she served as a teacher at Our Lady of Sorrows Convent, Denville, NJ (1963-1965), at St. Mary’s School, Denville, NJ (1965-1966 and 1967-1971)), Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Wichita, KS (1966-1967), as an organist, a receptionist, and as a Financial Manager (accounting and bookkeeping) at St. Francis Health Resort, Denville, NJ (1971-1988). During this time, she earned a Masters Degree in Spirituality from St. Joseph Seminary. She moved to Rome, Italy in 1988, where she attended the Vatican School for Postulators, graduating in 1990. In 1989, she was a collaborator for the beatification/canonization process of Mother Frances Streitel in Rome and served as postulator from 2003 – 2010. There she wrote the Positio regarding the life, work and heroic virtues of Mother Frances, which was approved by the Vatican Commission of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. In Bamberg, Germany she also assisted the Diocese and a cloistered order regarding historical and beatification matters.
Sister Therese’s fondest memories include a private audience with Pope St. John XXIII and receiving her diploma from Pope St. John Paul II, likewise pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima, Ireland, Medjugorje, and the Holy Land.
Sister Therese Marie retired and moved to SSM Franciscan Courts in 2014 where she continued her ministries of prayer, tending to flower gardens, and organ playing in the Chapel. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Lambert.
Homecoming was held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 4:00pm at SSM Franciscan Courts, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30am on Thursday, May 15th with Father Bill Hower officiating. Burial took place at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Submitted by Sr. Judith Marie Beck