Sister Marie Therese Courtad, CSJ
60 years
Sister Marie Therese Courtad was one of six children born to Marcella and George Courtad. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, until the age of twelve when her family relocated to Indiana. At the urging of her parish priest, Sr. Marie Therese attended high school at St. Joseph Academy in Tipton, Indiana, where she became acquainted with the Sisters of St. Joseph. Upon graduating, she entered the community in Tipton.
Her first ministry was as a housekeeper for convents at area parishes and at the motherhouse, a role in which she served for nearly fifteen years. In 1980, Sr. Marie Therse earned her Certificate in Home Care and began serving as a nursing assistant at Mercy Hospital in Elwood, Indiana. She fondly recalls her days as a rehabilitation aide at St. Anthony’s Home, where she worked in the therapy department. This position offered a variety of tasks to provide care for her clients. After fifteen years in nursing, she went on to serve as a driver and a sacristan at St. Joseph Center in Tipton.
When the center in Tipton closed, Sister Marie Therese returned to her childhood home of Cleveland, Ohio, and currently resides at St. Joseph Center. A regular attendee of art and reflection sessions at the center, she enjoys drawing and sketching, and is active in prayer ministry.
