Leora Margaret Lenz was born on July 6, 1926, in St. Michael, Minn. She was the first of six children born to the late Florian and Ida (Lehn) Lenz. When she was 10 years old, the family moved to Waconia, Minn., where she continued her elementary education at St. Joseph School. She spent two years at Waconia High School and continued her high school education at St. Francis High School, graduating as a postulant in 1944. She was accepted as a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, on August 12, 1944, and given the name Sister Mary Therese. She made her first profession of vows on August 12, 1946, and final vows on August 12, 1949. She was a Franciscan Sister for 76 years.
Sister Therese earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul. She also studied at St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud; St. Louis University, St. Louis, Mo.; College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph; and the School of Massage, Minneapolis. Sister Therese ministered as a religion and elementary teacher, religious education director, office clerk, therapeutic massage therapist and audiovisual director. She was a certified graphoanalyst and massage therapist. In 1987 she was elected president of the Minnesota Chapter of Graphoanalysts. She served in Elk River, St. Cloud, Browns Valley, Flensburg, Foley, St. Paul and Little Falls, all in Minnesota.
Sister Therese was a gentle, soft spoken woman with a deep interest in and love for people. She had many interests and concerns that brought her closer to people. It was through using her hands as a graphoanalyst and massage therapist that she literally got in touch with people. It was especially through those ministries that she assisted people in getting in touch with their bodies and spirits.
When she celebrated her golden jubilee as a Franciscan Sister she said, “I think I have always been a Franciscan at heart. Even as a child I had a great devotion to Saint Francis. Peace, justice, wholistic living and prayer are very much a part of me.” Her desire for more time for prayer was fulfilled when she and Sister Maristell Schanen moved to a house in Belle Prairie and lived there as hermits for a number of years.
She had a great love for her family and especially enjoyed spending time with her siblings. She looked forward to the occasional family gatherings of not only siblings, but also cousins. She also enjoyed keeping in touch with many of her former students.
Sister Therese was preceded in death by parents, her brother, Myrl, and a sister, Sister Dorothea, OSB. Survivors include siblings: Sister Luanne, OSB, St. Joseph; Ira (Donna), St. Cloud; Jane (Thomas) McLaughlin, Cottage Grove; her nieces and nephews, and her Franciscan Community.
A private burial service was held on October 15, 2020. A Memorial Mass was held August 28, 2021 with family and friends.
