October 3, 1941 — January 12, 2026
Sister Theresa Marie Grochowski died at St. Francis Hospital, Hartford, CT, on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Shortly after midnight, on January 7th, Sister fell in her bedroom. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital. She had a broken femur.
Surgery was successful, but she was found to have COVID and needed breathing support. The amount of air given gradually decreased and sister was able to breathe on her own.
Sister knew that there was a possibility of death if she could not maintain her own breathing. She was at peace with the decision to remove the tubes and asked for a priest and the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
A full afternoon of plans and changed plans followed. Upon learning that Sister Theresa Marie was unable to return to Our Lady of the Angels Convent, Sr. Anita Marie Louise Taddonio and Sr. Carol Marie Saladin drove to be at her bedside in the ICU. They called Sr. Theresa’s sister Ann Shrayer, and soon she was on the phone speaking to her, tenderly assuring her of love and prayers and remembering the blessings they had as a loving family.
Sister died very peacefully at 6:48 p.m., and the sisters prayed a final Hail Mary with her. Sister Theresa Marie was 84 years old.
Theresa Ann was born on October 3, 1941, the Feast Day of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Webster, Massachusetts, to Bernard John and Stephanie Theresa (Twardzik) Grochowski. Theresa Ann was baptized at St. Joseph Church in Webster, MA, on October 19, 1941. This was the same church in which her parents had married and her two brothers, Bernard and Francis had been baptized.
Theresa attended St. Joseph School, entering on September 3, 1947. In March of 1948, her sister Ann Marie was born, completing the family with 2 boys and 2 girls.
Theresa’s First Communion at St. Joseph Church was on May 20, 1951. She wrote, “The morning before I received Jesus, I told my mother that I was so happy and couldn’t wait until He was in my heart. The whole day was so wonderful. I will cherish it always.”
Theresa Ann was confirmed in her home parish on November 12, 1954, taking the name Mary because she “had a great devotion to Our Blessed Lady.”
In October 1953, Theresa experienced the death of her grandmother, and in December, the death of her grandfather. She was very fond of them and found words from her cousin, Sr. Mary Judith, that comforted her and touched her heart.
Theresa said that in the eighth grade, she began to think about her future and that her eighth-grade teacher, Sr. Mary Benjamin, was a great inspiration. After her first visit to the aspirancy, Theresa left with the desire to serve God as a sister. Her parents were happy about her choice and prayed for her perseverance. even though her father felt she was too young.
Theresa Ann graduated from St. Joseph School on June 19, 1955. She entered the aspirancy and Our Lady of the Angels Academy on August 26, 1955. Upon graduation four years later, Theresa was accepted to postulancy on August 1, 1959.
On August 14, 1960, Theresa was invested as a novice with the name Sister Mary Herminia. A year later, she made her first profession. Perpetual vows were professed on August 15, 1967. This was six months after the death of her father in February of that year.
Sister Theresa Marie’s Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 1984. Her Golden Jubilee was in 2009. For both, her theme was CHRIST ALONE – MY LIFE! MY LOVE! MY ALL! Sister Theresa Marie and Sister Theresa Mary Pietrzak celebrated their 60th Jubilee together with the Felician Community in 2019.
Sister Theresa Marie Grochowski was a teacher, part-time student, and sacristan in the 1960’s in Middletown, Thompsonville, and Hartford, CT. From 1969-1972, she taught in Webster, Clinton, and East Hampton, MA. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree on June 5, 1971, from Assumption College – St. Augustine Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts. Sister continued to teach and study in Torrington, CT (1972-1976), in Providence, RI (1976-1978), in Webster, MA (1978-1980), and at St. Martha in Enfield, CT (1980-1984). On May 16, 1981, Sr. Theresa Marie Grochowski was awarded the degree of Master of Arts – Special Education by Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Sister Theresa was the principal of St. Stanislaus in Adams, MA, for seven school years (1984 -1990). She also served as principal in Indian Orchard, MA, and St. Martha’s in Enfield, CT, until 2011.
Sister was a commissioned Eucharistic Minister in the Archdiocese of Hartford. Beginning in 2011, Sister served the parish of St. Bernard as pastoral minister until COVID changed the plans of many ministries. Sister served two local ministers with convent concerns up to the time of her death.
Sister was a quiet, loving and helpful sister. She read newspapers and magazines regularly. She liked to watch the diocesan daily mass. She had a gentle spirit and shared encouraging words. Sister was solicitous to anyone who was suffering. She was well-loved, respected, and had lasting relationships with people with whom she worked.
Sister Theresa Marie had a very close relationship with her family members. Describing her childhood, she said, “I was the first daughter, but I already had two brothers, Bernard and Francis. They were very kind and helpful to me. My home was a very happy one, with everyone helping and loving each other… my mother had a little baby girl. I was so happy, for now I had a sister Ann Marie…”
A month after Theresa Ann entered the aspirancy, her brother Bernard entered the seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan. Among her memories was a photo from a newspaper article where Sister pinned a gold leaf of promotion on her brother’s collar. The ceremony was in North Carolina. Fr Grochowski, from the Diocese of Worcester, was assigned to the Marine Corps and was stationed in Vietnam and other places before retiring back to life in Massachusetts.
Sister Theresa Marie loved keeping up with her family. She spoke often with her sister Ann on the phone. She kept photos of the twin grand-nieces – Alda Marie and Ursula Anne – in a very organized manner on her tablet. Every month contained the documented proof of their growing up with many adventures with their loving parents, Lisa and Chris Mace.
Sr. Theresa is survived by a sister, Ann Shrayer (+Edwin); brother Reverend Bernard J. Grochowski; sister-in-law Sue Grochowski (+Francis), niece Lisa Shrayer Mace, and nephew Keith Shrayer.
Sister was predeceased by her parents, Bernard J. Grochowski (1967) and Stephanie Twardzik Grochowski (1972), and her brother Francis (2022).
Family members, priests, sisters, friends, former students, and parents from St. Martha School, St. Bernard, and Holy Family attended the Visitations and Mass.
A Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated with Fr. Andrew Santamauro, OFM, Conv. presiding and Fr. Paul Miskiewicz, OFM, Conv. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 11:00 am in Our Lady of the Angels Convent Chapel. Lisa Mace and Keith Shrayer, niece and nephew, were lectors. Due to the weather, the prayers for internment were held in the back of the chapel. The interment was at St. Jeanne Jugan Cemetery, formerly St. Adalbert Cemetery, in Enfield, CT.
