Franciscan Sister Therese Furnstahl will celebrate her 100th birthday with a celebration Mass with invited guests and her religious community at St. Francis Convent in Little Falls.
Therese Elizabeth Furnstahl, daughter of the late Joseph and Catherine Furnstahl, was born on July 3, 1926, near Carthage, South Dakota, entered the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls January 29, 1944, was accepted into the novitiate August 12, 1944, and given the religious name Sister Mary Leo; and made her first vows on August 12, 1946. In later years she returned to her baptismal name. She has been a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls for 81- years.
Franciscan Sister Mary Pat Burger, a member of the community’s leadership team, noted Sister Therese’s wisdom and commitment over the years.
“Sister Therese is one of the wise women on whose shoulders we stand. Shortly after she retired from her Nurse Supervisor position at St. Gabriel’s Hospital, she acquired a three-wheel bicycle and continued to use her nursing skills to visit and care for the community of Little Falls. She continues to be a source of prayer and wisdom for not just us sisters, but for family, friends and acquaintances,” Sister Mary Pat said.
Sister Therese has ministered in hospital nursing and later as a home health care provider, serving in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and Alexandria, Moorhead and Little Falls. She had the great privilege of being present at hundreds of births and at the death of many people which has been very rewarding for her. Sister Therese continues to offer herself in a ministry of Franciscan prayer, correspondence and presence at the Franciscan Sisters’ Motherhouse in Little Falls.