Chocolate seemed to be everywhere around Nazareth as Sister Teresa Margaret Bransky celebrated her 105th birthday, and there was a story behind each box.
Years ago, Sister Teresa served at Holy Rosary in Republic, Pennsylvania, where she came to know Redstone Candy, a local candy company that became a favorite among the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, whose community joined with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in 2008. The Sisters regularly shared Redstone chocolates, and the company’s owner occasionally sent large deliveries to the Motherhouse.
That tradition returned for Sister Teresa’s 105th birthday when her nephew, Walter Kasievich Jr., brought Redstone chocolates to Nazareth for her to share with the community.
Word of the milestone also reached Redstone Candy. When the owner learned that one of the company’s longtime customers was turning 105, he sent his congratulations and asked for a photograph of Sister Teresa with the candy.
So as chocolates were passed around Nazareth to all the Sisters, they carried with them a small piece of Sister Teresa’s story, connecting friends, family, and communities that have been part of her life for many years.
At 105, Sister Teresa was still doing something she and the Sisters have done for generations. Sharing something sweet with the people around her.