Sister Therese Marie Kodz, 75, a Felician Sister for 57 years, died in Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, Dec. 10, 2018. The former Mary Kodz was born on June 23, 1943, in Utica. She belonged to St. Mary Parish, New York Mills. She entered the Buffalo Province of the Felician Sisters on July 2, 1961, and professed perpetual vows on Aug. 3, 1969. After graduating from the Utica Catholic Academy, she furthered her education at Villa Maria College of Buffalo earning an associate in applied sciences degree. She then attended Medaille College in Buffalo to earn a bachelor of science degree in education and at State University of New York College in Buffalo for a master of science degree in education.

Sister Therese Marie began her teaching ministry in the Diocese of Buffalo. She taught at St. Josaphat and St. Stanislaus schools in Buffalo and Holy Spirit School in North Collins. In 1968, she continued serving as an elementary school teacher in the Diocese of Syracuse. She was known to be an excellent reading teacher.

Her ministry extended to the Diocese of Ogdensburg in 1972 when she taught and served as principal at St. Mary School in Canton for six years.

She returned to the Diocese of Syracuse in 1982 and was engaged in teaching ministries within this diocese until 2015. Sister Therese Marie served as principal at St. Stanislaus Kostka School, Binghamton, and Transfiguration School in Rome. At St. Mary School in New York Mills, she taught fifth grade and served as assistant principal. Her last years of teaching were in Utica.  

Because of illness, Sister Therese Marie moved to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent in Buffalo in 2015. In October of that year, she became a patient in Blessed Mary Angela Care Center, where she frequently reached out to listen and encourage other patients who were in pain.  

Sister Therese Marie is survived by her sister, Rose Wozniak. She was predeceased by her parents, Milton and Stephanie (Trzepacz) Kodz, and brother, Joseph Kodz.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m. in the Convent Chapel. Burial will follow in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.