Memorial Gathering for Sister Marie Theresa
by Kirk Postotnik
Sister Marie Theresa Belanger once said, “I offer all I have… For me, it’s an opportunity and a privilege to live and work among the poor who wait for a better day.”
It was with this spirit of compassion that she so selflessly served, for nearly 30 years, the uninsured and underserved patients of St. Mary’s Health Clinics, a ministry of the CSJ Community.
She died on July 14 of this year.
In memory of Theresa, her coworkers at St. Mary’s held a memorial gathering and planted a tree on the grounds of Carondelet Center. Theresa was known for being a lover of nature and wildlife. She had a soft spot for squirrels, as many knew, and would regularly feed them. Planting a tree seemed like an appropriate gesture for a person who so dearly loved animals. Executive Director Susan Gehlsen and Nursing Supervisor Elizabeth Lebakken provided the tree, a showy mountain ash, one which is particularly popular with wildlife. Elizabeth, with the help of Kirk Postotnik, planted the tree on the evening before Theresa’s funeral and memorial gathering on Tuesday, August 25, 2020.
The tree planting ceremony was held at 4:30 in the afternoon that Tuesday. Everyone met at the statue of St. Joseph and walked over to the tree. In addition to the employees of St. Mary’s, Sister Margaret Belanger and Sister Suzanne Herder were in attendance. Margaret shared a funny story about how Theresa would have pounds of peanuts stockpiled in her home to feed the squirrels. She also expressed how much Theresa loved everyone at the clinics. Suzanne led the group in prayer and Chris Hanson read the poem “Light the Candle”. After those in attendance finished speaking, there was a moment of silence to remember Theresa and walnuts were placed on the ground around the tree to provide food for the squirrels. Following the ceremony there was a light meal in the garden of the statue of St. Joseph.
As the staff water the tree and watch it grow, it will be a way to celebrate Theresa’s life with life, to be involved in the life of the tree, to cherish a living reminder of her life, and to mark her importance in everyone’s life. Sister Marie Theresa Belanger will forever be remembered by her coworkers at St. Mary’s Health Clinics.
Light a Candle
Light a candle, see it glow,
watch it dance, when you feel low.
Think of me, think of light,
I’ll always be here, day or night.
A candle flickers, out of sight,
but in your heart, I still burn bright.
Think not of sadness, that I’m not near,
think of gladness, and joyous cheer.
I have not left, I am not gone,
I’m here to stay, my little one.
So when you light a candle and you see it glow
and you watch it dance, in your heart you’ll know.
That I would never leave you, even when you feel so blue,
I’m sitting up here with the Lord and now watching over you.