Sister Teresita Richardson, OSF 1935-2020

A person of many talents and many interests, Sister Teresita Richardson passed away suddenly on Sept. 18, 2020, in the health care center at 201 Reist St. She was 84.

Sister Teresita lived 43 years as a Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Divine Child and 16 years as a Sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities as a result of a merger and eventual union of three religious congregations.

Sister Teresita was born in New Orleans on Oct. 20, 1935, to Wilfred Albert Richardson and Margaret Seminary, who named her Evelyn.

Sister Teresita served as a lay missionary in the Daughters of St. Francis Apostolate sponsored by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters from July 1960 to October 1961. In 1961, she entered the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Divine Child taking the religious name Sister Teresita. For 29 years, she served as a census taker, and for 17 years she served as a teacher and coordinator of religious education. In addition, Sister Teresita served as a staff member of the House of Peace & Justice in California and Mexico; volunteer at Little Portion Friary and parish visitor at Our Lady of Lourdes, both in Buffalo; and as a kindergarten teacher at Divine Child and Rainbow K kindergartens in Buffalo. Sister also served as a missionary in Brazil working with the Jesuits with the poorest of the poor, and worked with migrants in Texas near the Mexican border. Sister Teresita was also a volunteer for prison ministry in Albion, serving as a member of the Kairos Prison Retreat and Bible Study programs.

Throughout the years, Sister Teresita maintained an interest in travel, languages, scripture and spirituality. She always maintained her New Orleans roots, annually celebrating Mardi Gras no matter where she was geographically with purple, green and gold beads.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Mildred, Dolores, Harold and John. She is survived by her brother Wilfred Jr. and sister Ethel. 

A private funeral Mass will be offered in the St. Mary of the Angels Chapel at Fredonia Place of Williamsville on Saturday, Sept. 26. Interment will be in Gethsemane Cemetery in Williamsville.