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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Sister Teresa of Jesus, OCD, (Mary Therese Lambert), 67, a member of the Carmelite Community, died Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at the Carmelite Monastery.
Sister Teresa was born Jan. 8, 1959, in Dallas, daughter of the late Roy and Madeline Lambert.
For our Sister Teresa, family was all important, whether it be her own personal family or her religious family in Carmel. She had a great love and respect for her father, who worked as a physicist for NASA and later as a science teacher. His work sometimes kept him away from home for long periods and also necessitated moving the family at times. From him, young Mary no doubt inherited her attraction for scientific studies and analytical thinking. As the only daughter, she naturally developed a very close relationship with her gentle mother, learning many valuable skills such as cooking and sewing, simply by attentively observing her mother at work. Above all, her mother instilled in her daughter's receptive heart a deep faith in God and in His Provident love and care.
This definitely upheld her in the many challenges her family would face through the years. Growing up in the midst of five brothers, one older and four younger, Mary felt at ease in their world of sports, love of the outdoors and willingly shared in all their interests. Throughout her life she was for each of them, a trusted and sympathetic listener in every need and concern. When only 12, Mary read the Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux and immediately felt the interior call to Carmel; however, after high school her father insisted she go to college first, and she readily obeyed.
By obtaining scholarships and working at a gas station or other odd jobs, Mary managed to earn the tuition needed for her years at a community college and then at the University of Texas A & M in Dallas. She would subsequently graduate from this university, summa cum laude, with a degree in biology. For a short while she pondered whether to go on to medical school with the intention of becoming a veterinarian; however, the desire for Carmel became ever stronger, and she realized this was where the Lord wanted her to be.
After initially spending several years of formation in another community, Mary was advised by her spiritual director to seek admittance into our Carmel. We then sought guidance from the Generalate in Rome, and it was determined that the usual one-year Postulancy was not necessary in Sister's situation. Thus, on July 8, 1990, she entered our Carmel in Iron Mountain, immediately receiving the Holy Habit and her new name of Sister Teresa of Jesus. Despite her somewhat quiet, introspective nature, Sister's joy at being here was not only genuine but very noticeable, as was her sense of gratitude to God for her vocation. She would make her First Profession one year later on July 16, 1991, and her Solemn Vows on the same date in 1994.
Strong and healthy, Sister Teresa was ever ready and willing to serve wherever needed. Over the years she faithfully and responsibly fulfilled her assigned "Offices" of Linen/Woolen Seamstress, Provisor, Sacristan, Altar Breads, gardening, and definitely was an excellent cook. Actually, the day before her death, in the midst of our sadness she made us smile when, coming out of a deep sleep, she urgently asked a Sister to: "Put the bread in the oven." At our Community recreations, Sister could be counted on to assist anyone needing help with their projects, joining in all the sharing and light-hearted laughter that marks these periods of our daily schedule in Carmel. Sister Teresa's daily fidelity to prayer and all our spiritual exercises was a silent witness to her deep love for Jesus. From her love for Him flowed her love for all the Sisters, which despite the human frailty we all share, was evidenced in her sincere respect for each one. Even in Sister Teresa's most fragile moments towards the end of her life, her concern for the well-being of other Sisters or their family members in need was truly remarkable.
Over several years we noticed a decline in Sister Teresa's cognitive abilities and sadly recognized the onset of Alzheimer's disease. It was the beginning of Sister's personal "Way of the Cross" and with much love, despite the heartache, we did our best to walk this "Way of the Cross" with her. While Sister Teresa's presence and her gentle smile will certainly be missed, we are grateful that her time of suffering has passed into the joy of eternal Life. It is our hope and prayer that she now fully experiences the Love, Peace and Joy of her Beloved Jesus, forever.
Sister Teresa is survived by five brothers, Joseph Lambert, John Lambert, Paul (Kelli) Lambert, Michael (Kathleen) Lambert and David (Xiangwei Tan) Lambert, as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Madeline Lambert.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Carmelite Monastery from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a prayer service conducted by our Chaplain, Father Peter Fosu.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at the Monastery Chapel by Father Peter Fosu and Concelebrants on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m.
Burial will be in the Carmelite Monastery Cemetery. Memorials may be offered to the Carmelite Monastery in lieu of flowers.
Condolences may be expressed to the family of Sister Teresa of Jesus, OCD, (Mary Therese Lambert) online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.
The Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain is in charge of arrangements.