Teresine Haban › Texts

The following is the Text of her Requiem Eulogy.

On Friday, April 9, 2010, toward the end of Easter Week,
our Sister Teresine Haban slipped quietly into eternity to
meet her risen Lord. Her passing from this earthly life into
everlasting life was surely an “Alleluia” moment – the
culmination of a life of loving commitment and service to
God and others.
Sister Teresine was born as the seventh of twelve children
on January 15, 1914, in Columbus, Ohio, to Stephen and
Anna (Kollar) Haban. At her Baptism, she received the
name of Eva Rosella.
Musically gifted, Sister Teresine began playing the piano
at the age of eight. She probably inherited this gift of
music from her father who used some of his earnings to
buy various musical instruments for his children. When he
purchased a piano at an auction, he learned that his little
daughter, Eva, could play it! From that time her parents
gave her piano lessons as a birthday gift each year until
she graduated from high school.
Sister Teresine attended St. Mary’s Grade School and High
School. On September 8, 1930, she applied for admission
into the postulancy of the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary
Immaculate and was accepted. She became a novice on
August 12, 1931, and was given her religious name of
Teresine. Her religious vocation was a gift from God for
her, one that she would cherish her whole life.
In 1942, Sister Teresine received her Bachelor’s Degree
from the College of St. Francis. She went on to earn a
Master’s in Music from the Chicago Music College. She
pursued her studies in music at the Eastman School of
Music in Rochester, New York, where she was awarded
her Doctoral Degree in Music.
Sister Teresine’s first ministry was at St. Clement School in
Chicago. Later she was assigned to teach music at the
College of St. Francis where she remained for 35 years,
eleven of which she served as Chair of the Department of
Music.
After leaving the College of St. Francis, Sister Teresine felt
called to expand her music ministry. She accepted a
position in the Music Department at West Chester State
College. Because she would live at Immaculata College
some eight miles away, she knew she would have to learn
to drive. Her determination saw her through the
achievement of this goal, and she enjoyed many side trips
to the local parks and sites in Pennsylvania.
Sister Teresine’s new position at West Chester State was
both challenging and rewarding. She wrote:  “The
challenge became a wonderful source of satisfaction and a
very real apostolate, transcending the teaching of music to
a witnessing of Catholicity and religious life.”
Not only was Sister Teresine a consummate teacher and
instructor, she was also the recipient of numerous awards
and honors, including a scholarship award for piano
study, an appointment as an associate of the American
Guild of Organists and Outstanding Educator of America
Award. She was active in Liturgical Education for over
sixty years and served as lecturer, consultant and editor in
the field of Catholic Hymnody. During her ministry she
became known as a composer, arranger, performer and
adjudicator. To quote one news article: “She reads difficult
music on sight much like the ease with which most adults
read a newspaper, and transposes with accuracy and
speed.”
Sister Teresine’s greatest priority, though, was her life as a
Joliet Franciscan. Despite many of life’s challenges,
changes and struggles, she loved this Congregation. She
loved and cherished what her vocation called her to be
and to become. Her example of fidelity and loyalty will
remain with us always.
Sister Teresine, as we leave OLA for your final resting
place, we take with us our memories of you.  We thank
you for the gift you have been and are to your Joliet
Franciscan Community. May your voice and your music
echo through eternity!      
Amen. Alleluia!