Guérin, Mother Theodore (1798–1856)
Guérin, Mother Theodore (1798–1856)
American religious order founder. Name variations: Sister Theodore or Mother Theodore; Mother Theodore Guerin. Born Anne-Thérèse Guérin on Oct 2, 1798, in Étables, Côtes-du-Nord, France; died May 14, 1856, at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, near Terre Haute, Indiana; dau. of a naval officer.
As Sister Theodore, took final vows with Sisters of Providence at Ruillé-sur-Loir, France (1825); served as superior at the order's school in Rennes; transferred to Soulaines (1833); with 5 fellow nuns, arrived in Indiana to establish the convent of St. Mary-of-the-Woods near Terre Haute (1840), the 1st academy for girls in Indiana, which opened in 1841 and later became Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (1909); served 16 years as superior of this American branch of the Sisters of Providence.