Sister Therese (Agnes Catherine) Rotarius, O.P.

Sister Therese Rotarius, O.P., 88, passed away at Ascension All Saints Hospital, Racine, WI on Friday, February 24, 2017.

Theresa Cecilia was born May 9, 1928 to Peter and Agnes (nee: Morian) Rotarius in Warren, MI. On September 2, 1946 she joined the Racine Dominicans and at her reception in 1947 she was given the religious name Sister Agnes Catherine. She professed her first vows in 1949 and her final vows in 1955. In 1968 she returned to using her baptismal name, Therese.

Sister Therese spent many years in service to others in education, both as a teacher and principal. She began her ministry in 1949 at Holy Name, Racine. Other places in Wisconsin where she served were St. Charles, Burlington; St. Mary Janesville; St. Catherine High School, Racine; St. John, South Milwaukee; and SS. Peter and Paul, Green Bay. She also served in Michigan. Later she served as the Community Life Assistant, Activity Director and Computer Overseer.

Sister Therese is survived by the Racine Dominican Sisters and Associates and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents; her foster parents Clarence and Catherine Kelly; her brothers Joseph, Sylvester, Francis, Louis, Anthony, Peter, Adolph and Mark; and sisters Anne Berger, Mary Rinke, and Josephine Budzyn and several other siblings who died in infancy.

Visitation will be in the Siena Center Chapel on Friday March 3 beginning at 9:00 a.m. with a Remembering Service at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Internment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery Hwy 32. Memorials to the Racine Dominican Mission Fund have been suggested.

The Racine Dominicans would like to extend their thanks to the Supportive Living staff who cared for Sister Therese at Siena Center and the staff at Ascension All Saints.