Missioner-educator started 54 year career in Panama

SISTER THERESA Marie Maksym, MM., whose life-long missioner-educator work began in Panama before she moved on to Guatemala and Mexico, died May 6, 2015, at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Ossining, NY. She was 87 years old.

Born in Jamaica, NY, on January 7, 1928, to Konstanty and Janina Lazowska Maksym, Sister Theresa entered Maryknoll on October 5, 1946 at its motherhouse in Ossining, NY, from St. Joseph’s Parish, Jamaica, NY. She received the religious name Sister M. Francis Christine, made her First Profession of Vows) on April 6, 1949, at the motherhouse, and her Final Vows on April 6, 1952, in Panama.

 A 1945 graduate of Jamaica High School, Jamaica, NY, Sister Theresa also held a bachelor’s degree in education from Maryknoll Teachers College, earned in 1958, and attended Maryknoll Seminary in spring 1976.

Sister Theresa’s first assignment was to Balboa, Panama, where she taught kindergarten, did catechetical work and home visitation, and ministered to youth from 1949-1953. She then taught third graders in Ancon, where she was also involved again in catechetical work, home visitation and ministry to youth, from 1953-1957.

Sister Theresa was then sent to Guatemala, where she served as principal and teacher of Grades 2 through 6 at San Miguel Acatan, Huehuetenango from 1959-1965. She also worked with women, did home visitation and catechetical work, as well as census work during that period.

Sister Theresa was then  assigned to Mexico, where she would serve for the next 42 years.
SISTER THERESA Marie Maksym, MM., whose life-long missioner-educator work began in Panama before she moved on to Guatemala and Mexico, died May 6, 2015, at the Maryknoll Sisters Center, Ossining, NY. She was 87 years old.

Born in Jamaica, NY, on January 7, 1928, to Konstanty and Janina Lazowska Maksym, Sister Theresa entered Maryknoll on October 5, 1946 at its motherhouse in Ossining, NY, from St. Joseph’s Parish, Jamaica, NY. She received the religious name Sister M. Francis Christine, made her First Profession of Vows) on April 6, 1949, at the motherhouse, and her Final Vows on April 6, 1952, in Panama.

A 1945 graduate of Jamaica High School, Jamaica, NY, Sister Theresa also held a bachelor’s degree in education from Maryknoll Teachers College, earned in 1958, and attended Maryknoll Seminary in spring 1976.

Sister Theresa’s first assignment was to Balboa, Panama, where she taught kindergarten, did catechetical work and home visitation, and ministered to youth from 1949-1953. She then taught third graders in Ancon, where she was also involved again in catechetical work, home visitation and ministry to youth, from 1953-1957.

Sister Theresa was then sent to Guatemala, where she served as principal and teacher of Grades 2 through 6 at San Miguel Acatan, Huehuetenango from 1959-1965. She also worked with women, did home visitation and catechetical work, as well as census work during that period.

Sister Theresa wasthen was assigned to Mexico, where she would serve for the next 42 years.