- January 8, 2021 Obituaries
(S. Eugene Therese)
November 8, 1943 – January 7, 2021
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Sister Jean Marie Abbott (S. Eugene Therese) who passed away on January 7, 2021, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was 77 years of age.
Sister Jean was born on November 8, 1943, in St. Louis to parents Eugene and Margaret Mary (Williams) Abbott. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet on September 15, 1961, was received into the novitiate on August 6, 1962, as Sister Eugene Therese, and made her final profession on August 6, 1969. She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Fontbonne College in 1966 and a master's degree in social work from St. Louis University in 1982.
Sister Jean began years of ministry as a teacher in 1966 at St. Catherine of Siena Grade School in Denver, Colorado. In 1968, she went on to teach in St. Louis at Our Lady of Lourdes Grade School for a year before transferring to Compton Heights School, where she taught junior high for two years.
Sister Jean left the classroom to begin her ministry in social work. In 1975, she served as a social worker at St. Henry Parish until 1980. After receiving her master’s degree in 1982, she became the parish social worker at St. Cronin Parish in St. Louis. She then left the states to continue her ministry in Jalapa, Nicaragua (1984-85), and Guatemala City, Guatemala (June-Dec. 1985).
After a few months in transition, Sister Jean returned to St. Louis in 1986 with a focus on serving refugees and immigrants, particularly those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. She served at the Central American Work Sanctuary in the sanctuary movement. From 1991 to 1997, she served in two roles: therapist at the Center for Psychological Growth and counselor at Haven of Grace Shelter.
For the next 12 years, Sister Jean served as a trauma therapist at Provident Counseling. In 2008, she became the clinical director for the Center for Survivors of Torture & War Trauma. Since 2013 until her passing, Sister Jean served as a private counselor.
The funeral Mass will be live streamed on Tues., Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. CST at
https://marymother.org/live-st.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Louis Province, 6400 Minnesota Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111-2899. Donate online.