Born to Leonicus Parra and Lucy Gallegos at Cuernavaca, Mexico, Nov, 28, 1914, Sister Maria Teresita received the name of Maria Concepta at baptism. We have no further record of Sister's life up to the time of her coming to Clyde as a postulant in October, 1932. At that time she was residing in Kansas City, though she did not become a naturalized citizen of the U.S.A, until March, 1943. She was received into the novitiate August 27, 1933, and at her profession of vows on October 27, 1934 was given the name of Sister Maria Teresita. Perpetual vows followed on January 27, 1940 and Virginal Consecration in November, 1952.

Through the years Sister was employed in a variety of tasks: care of chickens, typesetting and layout work in the printery; work in the book-bindery and addres- sograph; canning, helping in kitchen and laundry, and for some years at our convents in Tucson and Mundelein, where she helped with the altar bread work and processing of dates.

Sister was gifted with a rich, melodious voice and for many years was a member of the schola. She had a joyous, lively disposition, but also a strong, determined will, and once her mind was made up it was hard to deter her. This sometimes led to her taxing her energies beyond her strength.

In 1971 Sister requested a year's leave of absence, which was extended for another year. During this time she did housework for an Auxiliary Bishop in Chicago. In February, 1973 she returned to the community at Mundelein and remained there until that priory was closed in 1978. Sister was then added to the personnel at our Tucson convent.

At the end of August, 1978, surgery revealed pancreatic cancer, and doctors estimated her life expectancy as six to eight months. Her wish not to have chemotherapy was respected.

During all these months she remained cheerful and was ever ready to render services to others. Her health declined rapidly and she suffered much. Eager for the accomplishment of God's holy will, though she loved life, she assented to death if that were His choice. During the summer months she made a retreat centered on preparation for death. Gradually she dispossessed herself of all but bare essentials, planned her funeral liturgy, and held herself in readiness for the Lord's call,

On August 24, 1981, having reached the culminating stage of her illness, she said to the nurse: "I am so sick. This is my worst day." It was the only day she asked for injections for relief of pain every four hours. The Bridegroom finally came for his bride just before noon on August 25th with the Superiors and many Sisters praying at her bedside. Fulfilling her request, the following passage from the Apocalypse was posted on the bulletin board:

"She will see God face to face and His Name will be written on her forehead. She will not need lamplight or sunlight because the Lord God will be shining on her."

Her funeral liturgy, planned by herself, was joyous and hope-filled. The recessional song told of Christ having overcome death by His holy Cross, and our own great joy in the proclamation of that mystery of life and love, in which our Sister now shared.

Having endured nobly and patiently, with strong faith, all that God asked of her in her terminal illness, Sr. Maria Teresita now rests in Mt. Calvary cemetery at Clyde with our dear Sisters who have run life's course and are now at rest in God, awaiting the final day of Resurrection with Christ.