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 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. She then attended Medaille College in Buffalo and Buffalo State College for degrees in education.

Sister Therese Marie began her teaching ministry 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 Dioceses of Syracuse and Ogdensburg.

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 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 was celebrated Dec. 13, in the Convent Chapel. Burial followed in St. Stanislaus Cemetery.