Sister Marian Teresa Dury, MM

Born: December 24, 1920
Entered: September 2, 1953
Died: July 1, 2026

The long, loving and generously lived life of Sister Marian Teresa Dury transitioned into eternal life early on July 1, 2026. Mary Teresa Dury was 105 years old and had been a Maryknoll Sister for 73 years, even considering that she entered the Maryknoll Sisters community, as she termed it, a “mature” candidate. She completed her missionary journey as a resident of the Eden Community in Maryknoll Sisters Home Care, Maryknoll, NY.

Mary Teresa Dury was born on December 24, 1920, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Ann Flynn Dury and Thomas Dury, in a family of two brothers and one sister, all of whom have predeceased her. She graduated from Holy Family High School in New Bedford in 1938 and later that year, she began her studies at Seton Hill College in Greensburg, Pennsylvania from where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology in 1942. She went on to study at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut from 1942 to 1945, leaving with a Master of Nursing Degree. From February 1945 to April 1946, Mary served in the Army Nurse Corp of the United States as a staff nurse, including time on a hospital ship travelling between Korea and the Philippines.

From 1946 to 1948, she worked as a staff nurse and clinical instructor at Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and this work experience opened the door to a further study of two years and a degree from Catholic University of America, that of a Master of Science in Nursing Education in 1949. From 1949 to 1953, she put her education to work as Associate Professor of Nursing at Catholic University of America, Louisiana State University and Boston College.

At the time of her Golden Jubilee in 2003, Mary wrote about how, when she was working as an Assistant Professor of Nursing, she considered “a further step up the professional ladder” while at the same time “running from” a persistent call of a religious vocation. She attributed her choice of Maryknoll Sisters to a strong Catholic family and reading various mission magazines, including The Field Afar. While she was working in Boston she read about the opening of a new Maryknoll Sisters novitiate in Topsfield, MA, and “dropped by to find out a few things”. She decided to, as she wrote, “‘try it out’ mostly to get rid of, once and for all, that persistent voice of the Spirit.”

And so, Mary entered the Maryknoll Sisters on September 2, 1953, and made her first profession of vows on March 7, 1956. At that time, she took the name of Marian Teresa which she kept throughout her life. Shortly thereafter she was assigned to what was then called Tanganyika and began a ministry that she loved and that endeared her to many Tanzanian women. She was one of the founders of the first girls’ secondary school in Tanganyika, Marian College. Young girls came from all over the country to study and the “Yankee Sisters” as they were called, laid the foundation of education to not only prepare the students to take the Cambridge examinations but also to “provide a well- rounded education and in the process, instill basic Christian values and ideals.” In addition, she wrote of that time: “We had every club under the sun … We had Dramatic Club, Country Dancing Club, Debating Club, Glee Club and oh, just name it“. Marian Teresa ran the Dramatic Club and students under her tutelage regularly took 1st and 2nd places in national drama competitions. While at Marian College, Marian Teresa made her final vows on March 7, 1962.

After establishing the new school and helping it flourish for 10 years, Marian Teresa came to the U.S. for renewal and then did fund raising for one year. In 1968, on her way back to Tanzania, Marian Teresa studied at the General Nursing Council of England & Wales for one year and received a certificate in midwifery. That was in preparation for her next ministry as Administrator and Midwife at Mary Mahoney Dispensary and Clinic in Buhangija, Shinyanga Diocese. There she and the other Sisters and staff treated an average of 250 patients a day and administered a 12-bed antenatal clinic, a 12-bed maternity clinic and a mobile maternal and child health clinic serving nine different villages. She wrote that here she experienced daily an aspect of the vow of poverty, the “Poverty of Time”, and lived out an aspect of the spirituality of Mother Mary Joseph which Marian Teresa particularly loved, that of Generosity.

Marian Teresa was called back to Maryknoll, NY, to serve as Head Nurse and Administrator of the Infirmary, from 1973 to 1976.

Following that ministry, Marian Teresa returned to Tanzania and worked with the Medical Missionary of Mary Sisters as Maternal and Child Health Coordinator of the Hanang Village Health Project where her focus became Community Health, training village health workers. From 1981 to 1991, Marian Teresa used her many talents in a variety of ministries in Tanzania and Kenya: As the Regional Coordinator for the Tanzanian region, as coordinator of the Maryknoll Sisters World Section House in Nairobi, Kenya, and as a staff member at the VEMA Health Project in Kalebejo, Tanzania, where she taught village women the basics of health and hygiene and at the same time, teaching them to teach others. That generous spirit which she learned from MMJ was exemplified in her willingness to always respond to regional and national needs.

In 1991, Marian Teresa’s services were again called upon at the Center, and she worked in Communications and what was then called “Supportive Services for the Elderly/Disabled”. By 1993, she was appointed Co-Coordinator of the Main House Council. After serving for six years, this is what was said of her: “Marian Teresa has faithfully served the Sisters in the Main House for six years. Never did she shirk any of the duties connected to the Office. Never did she close her office door and post “No Entry” signs; Sisters always felt welcome. Never did she refuse an invitation to a party or refuse to drive Sisters to places or shy away from preparing prayer services or entertainments … We are extremely grateful.”

Marian Teresa’s “last hurrah” in Tanzania was from 2000 to 2004 when she returned to her first ministry in the country, that of teacher. She taught English to young women, many of them novices of the Immaculate Heart Sisters, the congregation founded by Maryknoll Sisters many years previously. In 2002, Marian Teresa was the recipient of the Seton Hill College Distinguished Alumna Leadership Award, and it reads: “Sister Marian Teresa, educator and missionary, and woman of determination and unwavering faith. At an age when most people are contemplating retirement, you continue to enrich the lives of children, particularly young girls, in your work across the globe.”

In 2004, Marian Teresa was assigned to the Center, Rogers Community, and she brought with her all her skills and experiences as nurse and teacher along with her gifts and talents as a provider of good times, laughter, and entertainment. In 2015, she transferred to the Chi Rho community and in 2018 to the Eden Community where she lived until her passing.

Marian Teresa had many gifts and talents and these she shared very generously throughout her long life. In addition, her graciousness and lovely presence were a gift to many, and who will ever forget the elegance of that French twist done so perfectly, the crown of a beautiful face and life.

We welcome our Maryknoll brother, Father John Lange, MM as he leads us in celebrating the life of our sister.