Sister Teresa Ann Leahy, SNDdeN

Obituary

We remember with gratitude the life of Sister Teresa Ann Leahy who was a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur for 75 years. At the age of 93, she died peacefully at Summit Medical Center in Oakland, California, after a short illness.Sister Teresa Ann entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1949 after graduating from Notre Dame High School, San Jose, California. A beloved elementary teacher for more than 30 years, she taught in schools across California in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Belmont, Yuba City, and San Jose, and in Portland, Oregon. She then served as principal at St. Philip Neri School in Alameda, California, and at Mt. Carmel School in Redwood City, California. In 1978 she moved to Watsonville, California, and became principal of Moreland Notre Dame School. She held that position until 2000, and then continued for another 23 years as a volunteer at the school and St. Patrick’s parish in Watsonville.During Sister Teresa Ann’s 45 years in Watsonville, she was known as a shining light in Pajaro Valley for her professional competence and dedicated service as an educator. The Leahy Leadership Award named in her honor is presented annually to two Moreland Notre Dame students who demonstrate an understanding that the heart of leadership is kindness and outreach to others. Being joyful, attentive to others, and kind herself, Sister Teresa Ann enjoyed community living and stated that she was most grateful for “the marvelous religious who shared their life and deep friendships with me.”Sister Teresa Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Rosalia Leahy, her sister, Mary Lehnert, and her brothers, Charles Leahy and Jack Leahy. She is lovingly remembered by her sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Leahy and Margot Turner, her brother-in-law, Walter Lehnert, her nieces and nephews, friends, former students, and Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Sister Teresa Ann’s life at 12 noon on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Our Lady Help of Christians at 2401 East Lake Avenue, in Watsonville, California. The burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. Contributions in Sr. Teresa Ann’s memory may be made to Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, 1520 Ralston Ave, Belmont, CA 94002 or online at snddeneastwest.org. Further information about Sister Teresa Ann’s life can be found at https://snddeneastwest.org/sisters/teresa-leahy/.