Sister M. Theresa John Talbot died in Camilla Hall on October 6, 2025, several days after her eightieth birthday. Sister served 60 years as a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Born Katherine A. Talbot on October 3, 2025 to her parents, John and Katherine (Brown) Talbot, who raised their family of four children in Immaculate Conception parish in Germantown, she attended elementary school there, graduating from Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1963. Sister completed her bachelor’s degree at Immaculata College in 1972 with a concentration in sociology and theology.
Entering the Immaculate Heart Community on September 8, 1965, Katherine celebrated reception of the habit and her religious name, Sister M. Theresa John, on June 27, 1966. Sister Theresa pronounced her first vows on June 28, 1968.
Sister Theresa began her ministry as an elementary school teacher in Holy Family teaching first grade, followed by two decades educating children in the primary grades throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Over these years these schools included the parishes St. Madeline, Ridley Park, and in Philadelphia, Holy Family, St. Philomena, St. Cecilia, St. Matthew, St. Laurence and St. Charles, Bensalem. Following this, for several years beginning in 2003, Sister offered tutoring in the IHM Educational Center at St. Martin of Tours.
In 2010, Sister’s teaching shifted to offering religious enrichment throughout the grades, beginning in St. Margaret, Reading, then moving on to Immaculate Conception School in Somerville, NJ and St. Ephrem in Bensalem. In March 2025, Sister was transferred to Camilla Hall to engage in the ministry of Prayer and Presence.
In addition to her IHM community, Sister is survived by her sister Regina Kaminski, her niece Kelly (Kaminski) married to Stephan Krall, her nephew Steven Kaminski, and her four grandnephews. Sister Theresa was predeceased by her parents John and Katherine (Brown) Talbot, her brother John J. Talbot, her sister Rosemary Talbot and her brother-in-law Tommy Kaminski.
Reverend Michael Speziale served as the main celebrant and homilist who celebrated Sister Teresa John Talbot’s Funeral Mass on Monday, October 13, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Most Reverend Efren V. Esmilla, Reverend Philip Bochanski, Reverend John Burger, S.S.C. and Deacon Jim DeBow assisted at the altar.
In Sister Theresa John’s memory a memorial donation may be sent to:
Camilla Hall Nursing Home
IHM Mission Advancement Office
230 IHM Drive
Malvern, PA 19355