Therese Martin Blehar, SCN, died Aug. 7, 2026, at Vincentian Home after a brief illness. She was 96 years old and in her 69th year of professed religious life.

Born May 20, 1930, in Hecla, Pa., to Michael and Mary (Solo) Blehar, Sister Therese Martin was the eldest of three children. She entered the Vincentian Sisters of Charity from St. Francis Parish in Coral, Pa., on Sept. 8, 1954, and made her perpetual vows on Aug. 15, 1960. In 2008, she transferred her vows when the Vincentian Sisters of Charity merged with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

Sister Therese Martin dedicated much of her life to education. She earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University) and a Master of Science in education from Duquesne University. Her teaching ministry began at St. Sebastian in Pittsburgh, followed by assignments at St. Michael in Munhall and St. Ursula in Allison Park. Over the following decades, she taught elementary grades at various Pennsylvania schools, including St. Michael in Braddock, St. Bartholomew in Crabtree, St. Mary in Uniontown, Holy Name in Monessen, and Holy Trinity in Duquesne.

Her leadership skills led her into administrative roles, serving as building principal at Holy Trinity from 1970 to 1973 and as principal of Monessen Catholic from 1973 to 1978. She also served as coordinator of the Holy Name Convent and principal at St. Agnes in North Huntingdon. In 1984, she served as CCD coordinator at Holy Trinity Parish in McKeesport before returning to St. Sebastian School to teach. She later stepped away from the classroom to care for her ailing mother.

In 1987, Sister transitioned to new ministries, serving as the Vincentian Motherhouse coordinator and later as pastoral minister at Vincentian Home from 1996 to 2008. She concluded her active ministry managing the reception area at St. Louise Convent until its closure in 2020. Even in retirement, she remained active in the prayer ministry.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Monica, and her brother, Raymond. She is survived by her nephews Patrick (Kathy) Murray, Raymond (Debbie) Blehar, and Michael (Beth) Blehar and their families, as well as her religious community, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.

Visitation will be held at St. Louise Convent Chapel, 8200 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. (please use the garden entrance). A wake service will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m.

Memorials may be made to the Office of Mission Advancement, P.O. Box 9, Nazareth, KY 40048.