Sister Marian Therese Kohles
April 5, 1925 - December 22, 2009
Obituary
Sister Marian Therese Kohles, SP
Sister Marian ‘Therese’ Kohles Sr. Mary Bernice died on December 22, 2009 at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, Washington at 84 years of age, after 64 years as a Sister of Providence. The Vigil Service will be held on December 29, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel at Providence Mount St. Vincent, 4831 35th Avenue Southwest, Seattle, WA. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on December 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Providence Mount St. Vincent in Seattle. Inurnment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, WA. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements.
Sister Therese was the eighth of 14 children born to Marie Freis and Michael Kohles on April 5, 1925 in Oakland, California. Her father was an automobile mechanic and her mother was a loving homemaker.
She attended Saint Elizabeth Elementary School and St. Elizabeth High School in Oakland, California which were in the same building. She and her siblings were in the St. Elizabeth schools from 1919-1955. While in high school, she worked as a billing clerk for a freight company and continued in this job for several years after graduation. In 2000, she was honored as the 2000 NCEA Catholic Elementary School Distinguished Graduate by the National Catholic Educational Association NCEA.
At an early age, she had an inner knowledge that she would eventually enter religious life and entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Providence on May 18, 1945.
She attended Auerswald Business College in Seattle, WA. She received a B.S. in Nursing at Seattle University, Seattle, WA in 1959 and received her M.A. Degree in Nursing, with a minor in Education, at the University of Washington in 1962. She took Theological Studies at Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA and St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA from 1983-1988.
She was in financial management at Providence Hospital in Seattle, WA from 1946-54. She also served as Director of Finance, 1951-54; Assistant Administrator, 1962-67; and Director of Nursing Services, 1964-67.
At Providence Hospital in Everett, WA, she was Head Nurse in Surgical Services from 1960-61. She was an instructor in the School of Nursing at Seattle University, Seattle, WA from 1964-65; staff nurse at the University of California Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, 1967-69; Director, Educational Services, Rogue Valley Memorial Hospital, Medford, OR, 1969-77; Director, Providence Child Center, Portland, OR, 1977-83; Assistant Administrator, Mission Effectiveness, St. Joseph Medical Center, Burbank, CA, 1985-89; and served in Mission Effectiveness and as a Sister Representative at Providence Hospital in Oakland, CA until she formerly retired in 1994.
She was involved in three research activities from 1965 – 1977 and wrote four publications regarding quality assurance in nursing and communication values in the administrative process.
She enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved sports, was an avid tennis player, and enjoyed playing tennis with her brothers. Her brother, Greg, was a nationally ranked tennis player in the Northern California Tennis Association. She also enjoyed swimming and bowling.
Sr. Therese was preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters. She is survived by one sister, Julie Cupp Richard, Moraga, California and four brothers, Francis Honey, Moraga, California; Donald Barbara, Mariposa, CA; Greg Cynthia, Calistoga, CA; Richard Jean, Hayden, Idaho; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.
Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
Thank You Sister for always having a beautiful positive attitude, and sharing your love with me and my family. You were a true Providence person! You are truly missed!
There really are no words to express the deep love we have for you. You are missed so very much and will always remain in our hearts.
Greg and Cynthia
Thank you Therese for your gift of hospitality, gracefulness in appreciation of life and how you journeyed in your illness. May you be at peace. Beatrice SP
Sister Therese was incredible. She was never without an opinion and she shared it freely. I remember SO much about her. She was always so interested in our lives and would actively participate whenever she could. I loved her laugh and I will miss her very much. I love you Aunt Therese. God Bless You.
Love, Kristin
My prayers are with the family and friends of Therese. I know that they will miss her very much, as we sisters do. I thank God for the privilege of sharing life with this beautiful woman for many years.
My prayers are with the family and friends of Sister Therese, a wonderful and peace-filled Sister.
Sr. Therese was a very gentle person and I loved my visits with her when I came to Seattle. She was always so positive and affirming. I know that she is resting in the arms of God right now.
Therese was a very special lady and I will miss her even though these last years I have not seen her much.
My prayers and sympathy to her family.
I did not know Sister Therese well, but she impressed me as a special person. May she rest in peace.
Sister Peggy
Sister Therese was such a wonderful human being who shared her compassion and goodness with so many. She was honored as a Distintuished Graduate of her elementary school, St. Elizabeth, in Oakland, CA about 15 years ago. She was truly a blessing to all she met. As we send her back to God with our loving prayer, may Therese be a strong and loving intercessor for us all.
My prayers are with the community and Sr.Therese’s family at this time of her loss. May our Provident God bless Sr. Therese as she enters his house.
Therese has completed her work here and has an eternity of peace and joy ahead. While we are sad for her loss, we rejoice in her gain.
You will be missed. Life has come to full circle. I always think of you as a classy sister. Here in PSJ you are remembered fondly from the lowliest staff to the highest.
Therese was an awesome Aunt. We had so much fun with her while she was living near us in Oakland.
Therese, a woman of wisdom, a good friend, a courageous lady, I will miss her.
Offering sympathy and prayers at this time for your loss. Therese was a special lady. When I moved to Tacoma, we shared California memories especially Oakland.Her understanding greatly eased my transition from CA to WA.I will miss her smile! Sister Sharon Casey, OP
Since I first met Therese when I was 10 years old, I cherished the special connection we had. She was a special lady, compassionate and caring for all she met. I was honored to know her and will miss her greatly. My love and prayers to her family.Sister Mary Wilson SP
Therese and I have been friends since 1948. We served many times at the same hospital. I talked to her about two weeks befoe she died to say our good bye. Thank you for letting me comment
Therese Kohles. You lived a full life and I am sorry to see you leave this earth, as you made life so enjoyable for others…for me. I remember you with a grateful heart. God Bless you, and pray for us.
Sr. Therese was my dear aunt whom I have known & loved my whole life.
She was devoted not only to God but her family and to Love and Peace in the world.
I will treasure especially having grown closer to her during the last six years.
I will miss her greatly.
She is a great lady of compassionate heart for the third world countries especially her visit to the Philippines with the doctors from PSJMC.
Sister Therese,Dear Sister Therese,
What a difference you made,
To planet earth with your wisdom,
You always knew the way,
Your commitment was so strong,
To family and friends alike,
And of course you could be feisty,
Could tell them to take a hike,
We could not help loving you,
Because it was always who you be,
You showed your love to the world,
And now YOU ARE FREE!
Love Henry.
Rest in Peace.
Theresae is such a wonderful friend and mentor since the mid-fortys. She has taught me much and been a wonderful advocate for the works of Providence especially during the changes of the 60&70s. I love her and am so grateful for so much.Great Peace for one who truly believed and relied on Divine Providence.
Sister Therese was a very special lady – kind and considerate, always welcoming and uncomplaining about her deteriorating health; she was a real class act and also just plain fun to be around. I will miss our visits at SJR. May our Provident God receive her with open arms.
Karie Owens, PA
My deepest sympathies and prayers for family, relatives and friends of Sr. Therese. May she rest in God’s loving embrace.
Thank you for all the wonderful times we spent together. Especially the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. We will think of you often. Buckaren Kohles
Sr. Therese watched over and guided us with love, compassion, and faith. We cherish our memories of family updates and feisty exchanges on sports, politics, and yes, religion. Her laughter, keen wit, and the twinkle in her eye will always be with us. She was a wonderful Auntie. Peace.
Sister Therese was a very special lady who was full of love for everyone and shared that love. She was a model for how to live and especially how to die.
We served together on a committee looking at the onset of male nurses in Oregon.
She was a leader, a delightful person that I remember well these many years later.
I graduated from Sacred Heart School of Nursing , Spokane 1950. A soft place in my heart for the “bow peep nuns”
We served together on a committee looking at the onset of male nurses in Oregon.
She was a leader, a delightful person that I remember well these many years later.
I graduated from Sacred Heart School of Nursing , Spokane 1950. A soft place in my heart for the “bow peep nuns”
You are a wonderful person and touched everyone with your knowledge and love! You will be greatly missed, and remembered for all you gave to others. I love you, Susan
With loving memories, Donna Samson
We will miss you, but we will celebrate your memories.
My deepest condolences to all of the Kohles and Pfalzer family.
Love,
Katya
She was loved and cherished, and she will be in our hearts forever!
Thank you for your life.
Richard & Jean