This year, Sr. Teresa McIntier, CSJ, Grief Counselor at the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries, celebrates 70 years of service to God and to God's people.   Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted celebrated the Mass which began our Annual Advisory Council and Staff Day of Recollection on March 18, 2010 in her honor and offered her a blessing.  A donation was made in Sister's name to St. Vincent de Paul and was accepted by Steve Zabilski, Executive Director.  In addition, the management staff of the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Cemeteries and Mortuaries will serve at St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room on April 30^th in honor of Sister's years of service.

Sr. first joined the Sisters of St. Joseph at a very early age in California.  During these years, Sister has ministered as a nurse, teacher and counselor.  Currently, she is nationally recognized in the field of bereavement counseling.  Sister was a founding member of the American Academy of Bereavement and was a faculty member from 1990- 2005. For over 25 years she has provided bereavement services and death education in the Metro Phoenix area.  Before joining DOPCCM, she spent 17 years as the grief specialist at Catholic Charities.

Now, with DOPCCM, Sister continues to provide grief counseling to those in need and she continues her commitment to death education, teaching various classes across the valley for hospice, parishes and bereavement professionals and for the grieving.  Sister Teresa is also one of the founding members of New Song Center for Grieving Children, Scottsdale, AZ.

Sister is a certified grief counselor and death educator through the Association of Death Education and Counseling and received her Fellow inThanatology from the same association in 2005   She has received the Compassionate Care Community Service Award for excellence which also bears her name.    She has been the recipient of the Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Achievement Award and the Maria Garey National Catholic Ministry for the Bereaved Award.