Sr. Angela Rodriguez, STJ, the oldest Teresian Sister of St. Francis de Sales Province, died today October 11, 2000 at the age of 106, after a brief illness. 

Sister Angela was born in Zacatecas, Mexico in August 2, 1894, and came to San Antonio in 1911 to enroll as the first student of St. Teresa’s Academy. In 1914 she entered the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus and went to Spain for her novitiate. She returned from Spain for the foundation of the Novitiate in New Orleans, Louisiana where she made her First Vows in 1917 and remained there, teaching at St. Louis Cathedral School until 1921, when she went to teach in Durango and Puebla, Mexico. 

In 1925 Sr. Angela returned to Louisiana to study music. After obtaining her degree from Our Lady of the Lake University, she took charge of the Music Department of St Teresa’s Academy until 1966. All those years she was the life of St. Teresa’s Academy, teaching music, drama, sponsoring the Glee Club, the Sailorettes Drum and Bugle Corps, as well the sisters and girls choirs, and presenting numerous student concerts.

In 1966 she was sent once again to Guadalajara, Mexico to teach music and English for another two years. Returning to the US in 1968, she taught music at St. Lawrence the Martyr Elementary School in Metairie, Louisiana until her retirement at St. Teresa’s Convent in San Antonio, Texas in 1980. Throughout her life, Sr. Angela’s gift of music was always her outstanding way of giving glory to God. Even in retirement, she continued to give some piano lessons, and until very recently could be called upon to play and sing, sharing her gift with others. She is survived by her niece Cristina Ramirez and numerous nieces and nephews in Mexico.

Sr. Angela will be sorely missed by all her Teresian Sisters, her family, all those who so lovingly took care of her, and her numerous students and friends. We rejoice in the great gift of her life, and in knowing that she is at last with her beloved Jesus. Surely we have a new advocate in heaven. 

May you rest in peace, Sr. Angela.