Sister Teresita Inés Argüello

Sister Teresita Inés Argüello, CSA, Victoria Argüello Hernández, died peacefully on September 20, 2018, at St. Francis Home.

Victoria was born in Bluefields, Nicaragua, on December 23, 1925. She was an only child whose mother died when Victoria was very young. She was adopted into the family of José Inocente Argüello and had a stepbrother, Pedro José González. She was educated by the Divina Pastora Sisters in Bluefields and for several years did clerical work in her home town.

Drawn by news that missionary sisters had arrived in 1945 to serve on Nicaragua’s Atlantic Coast, she was one of the first two Nicaraguan women to join the pioneer community of Sisters of St. Agnes at Waspam in June 1948. Victoria continued her religious formation at St. Agnes Convent in Fond du Lac, WI, from 1949-1951. She made her profession of vows in the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes on August 15, 1951, as Sister Teresita Inés.

After returning to Nicaragua in 1951, Sister taught primary students and was a catechist for 26 years in Managua, Puerto Cabezas, Rosita and Waspam. Regular mission trips to the villages along the Coco River always held a special place in Sister’s heart. The second half of Sister’s ministry was devoted to pastoral service, including visiting the sick, leading prayer groups, and offering a caring presence to those in need. She enjoyed needlework, macramé and weaving, and she instructed women who were interested in learning those skills. After celebrating 50 years as a religious in Nicaragua, Sister Teresita became a resident of Nazareth Center in Fond du Lac in 2001. During the last four years of her life, she resided at St. Francis Home.

Sister Teresita Inés was the last living member of her family. She is survived by the Sisters of St. Agnes, with whom she lived, prayed and ministered.

Visitation for Sister Teresita Inés will be held at Nazareth Court and Center, 375 Gillett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on Thursday, September 27, beginning at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Prayer Service at 11:00 a.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 27, 2018, at St. Francis Home Chapel, 33 Everett Street, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Father Ken Smits, Capuchin, will preside. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Springs Cemetery.

Memorials can be directed to the Sisters of St. Agnes Development Office, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937.

The Sisters of St. Agnes are grateful to the nurses and staff of Nazareth Court and Center/St. Francis Home, and Hospice Hope, for their care of Sister Teresita in her last years.

Zacherl Funeral Home is serving the Sisters of the Congregation of St. Agnes.