Mother Teresa Callahan

Mother Teresa of Jesus, O.C.D., 79, beloved prioress of the Carmel of Saint Therese in Danvers, died Wednesday morning, June 1, 2022, at Salem Hospital following a brief illness. She had worked, prayed, and lived as a Discalced Carmelite nun for fifty-eight years. A Peabody native, she was born Patricia A. Callahan on June 7, 1942, the daughter of the late Thomas and Kathryn (Sweeney) Callahan. She was raised and educated in Peabody and was a graduate of Saint John’s Girls High School in Peabody Square. As the oldest of four children, she was a natural-born leader who always made sure her younger siblings were dressed, had eaten, and had their lunch packed before heading off to school. She was always lending a hand around the house—whether it be helping her mother in the kitchen or shoveling snow. She furthered her education at Emmanuel College, graduating in 1963. She entered the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Danvers in 1964, where she faithfully served her God, her sisters, and the world through her life of service and prayer. Described as a true “renaissance woman,” Mother Teresa’s skills varied from working the wheel horse to tend the fields of the monastery and preparing delicious meals for feast days to her work as a scripture scholar and teacher within the community. Over her nearly six decades at the monastery, Mother Teresa served willing as turn sister, sacristan, and infirmarian. Her skill as both a seamstress and an artist added much to the community and their works to the outside world. Whether creating a banner, a vestment, or transposing a biblical passage into art through calligraphy, Mother Teresa put her whole heart into her work unceasingly. When her parents’ health began to fail, she took on the role as caretaker to them, serving them lovingly and faithful, but still never being absent from her work within her beloved Carmel. Mother Teresa’s strength and stamina held out through any adversity, even through her recent battle with cancer. Her Carmelite community, her family, and her many friends thank the Lord for allowing them to reap the benefits of having her bring so much into their lives. In addition to her Carmelite sisters, she leaves a sister, Elaine Schneider of West Chester, PA, a brother, John Callahan of Swansea, a sister-in-law, Yupadee “Meo” Callahan of Thailand, her nieces and nephews, Maura, Jamie, Meghan, Samantha, Kay, Thomas, and Jonathan, and their families. She was the sister of the late Thomas Callahan. Mother Teresa’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 11AM in the Chapel of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, 15 Mt. Carmel Rd., Danvers. Burial will follow in the nuns’ cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 4-7 PM in the monastery chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mother Teresa’s memory may be made to the Discalced Carmelite Nuns, 15 Mt. Carmel Rd., Danvers, MA 01923. Arrangements are by C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. To share an expression of sympathy, please visit www.LyonsFuneral.com.