Sister Teresa Collins, CSJ, (formerly Sister Teresa Michelle), a Sister of St. Joseph for 67 years, died July 26 in Maria Regina Residence, Brentwood.

Sister Teresa was born August 11, 1937, the fifth of seven children of Margaret and Michael Collins. She attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School, Brooklyn, and St. Brendan High School.

Upon entering the Sisters of St. Joseph on September 12, 1955, she began her education at Brentwood College and achieved a Master’s Degree in French at Rivier College in New Hampshire in 1969.

Having taught in elementary schools — St. Stanislaus in Maspeth, Holy Name of Mary in Valley Stream, St. Michael’s in Flushing, and St. Frances de Chantal in Wantagh — Sister Teresa began her high school ministry as a teacher of French at Sacred Heart Academy, Hempstead, and Bishop Kearney High School in Brooklyn.

Her calling began moving her in a different direction as she served in Bethel House of Prayer for three years, was Director of Postulants for a year, and after two years at Stella Maris High School, began her discernment of the Redemptoristine Convent in Esopus, New York. She had participated in the Spiritual Life Institute and was a certified spiritual director. Her four years with the Redemptoristines revealed God’s desire for her to return to the Sisters of St. Joseph. She then began ministries at Our Lady of Perpetual Help High School, Brooklyn, for eight years, followed by a staff assistant position in Maria Regina Convent (Residence) until 2006, after which her beloved OLPH became her home. As failing health became severe, she lived in Sacred Heart Convent, Hempstead, until she moved to St. Joseph Convent, Brentwood, in 2020, where she resided until her death.

The Mass of Christian Burial, offered by her brother, Father Raymond Collins CSsR, occurred in Sacred Heart Chapel, Brentwood, on Saturday, July 30. Cremation and burial will be held at a later date.