Sister Elias, Carmelite nun for 74 years, passes away

August 24, 2023

Sister Elias of the Queen of Carmel, O.C.D, who entered the Carmelite Monastery in Mobile in 1949 and was a Carmelite nun for 74 years, died Aug. 23 at the age of 93.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Monastery chapel, 716 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, by Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi. Msgr. Warren Wall was the homilist. Burial followed in the Monastery cemetery. Visitation was the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 25 at the chapel.

Theresa Ann Dreka was born in Deland, Fla., in 1929. She first thought of a religious vocation when she was 16. She read the autobiography of St. Therese, the Little Flower and this is what put the desire of being a Carmelite nun in her heart. She attended Barry College for one year, then moved with her family to Washington, D.C, during World War II. Both her father and brother were in the U.S. Navy.

Theresa decided at this time to enter Carmel. She visited the Carmelite Monastery in nearby Baltimore, but the monastery had the full quota of 21 nuns. The Prioress suggested she try the newly founded monastery in Mobile.

Sister Elias entered the Carmelite Monastery in Mobile in 1949. She made her temporary profession in 1950 and her solemn profession of vows in 1953. Sister said, “From the beginning, in spite of ups and downs, I was so happy to be where I believed God wanted me to be – to give my life for Him – for priests, for the Church and for souls.”

Sister was an expert seamstress and made exquisite vestments. She also sewed the Habits for the nuns. She was able to do just about anything. If something were broken the nuns would call sister Elias before they would call the professionals.

Sr. Elias celebrated her Golden Jubilee in 1999 and her Diamond Jubilee in 2009.

Sister is preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Florence Gainey Dreka, her brother George, and her sister Catherine. She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Just before Sister died, she smiled, and a tear rolled down her cheek even though she had been unresponsive for some time before that. “Well done good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23