Sister Therese Marian, H.M., formerly Sister Mary Roch, and the former Florentine Marian, died Sunday, September 9, 2007 at Villa Maria Community Center at the age of 94. She was in her 78th year of religious life. Sister Therese’s funeral was celebrated on September 12, 2007. She is buried at Villa Maria, Pennsylvania.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, the daughter of Rocco and Maria (DiLisio) Marian, she entered the Sisters of the Humility of Mary from Sacred Heart Parish, Youngstown, Ohio on September 7, 1930. She professed her perpetual vows August 19, 1936.
Sister Therese received her high school diploma in 1930 from Villa Maria High School, Villa Maria, Pennsylvania. She earned her BSE in 1939 and her MA in 1946, both from St. John College, Cleveland, Ohio.
Sister Therese gave 49 years of dedicated service to the ministry of education. During her 25 years in the Cleveland diocese she served as principal of St. Ambrose, Brunswick; taught at St. Ambrose, Brunswick and St. Sebastian, Akron; and was a critic teacher at St. James, Lakewood and St. Philip Neri, Cleveland, supervising student teachers from St. John College.
Sister Therese also served in the Diocese of Youngstown where she was principal at Mother of Sorrows, Ashtabula and St. Anthony, Canton. She also taught at Mother of Sorrows, Ashtabula; St. John the Baptist, Canton; and St. Edward, Youngstown. She was a part-time librarian at St. Brendan, Youngstown.
In addition to her classroom teaching, Sister Therese worked on the Diocese of Cleveland Curriculum Committee from 1948-53 and co-authored a phonics workbook. In the Diocese of Youngstown she was an instructor of lay catechists from 1958-60.
During her 14 years as a pastoral minister, Sister Therese faithfully tended to the needs of the sisters at Villa Maria Community Center, especially the sick.
Sister Therese celebrated her 75h jubilee as a Sister of the Humility of Mary in 2006.
She is survived by her sisters in the Humility of Mary Congregation; her sister, Mrs. Esther Pedaline of Youngstown, Ohio and many, many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Daniel, Richard and Arthur Marian; and her sisters, Juliette DeSalle, Adeline DeSalle, Caroline Augell, and Ann Thomas.
Contributions in memory of Sister Therese Marian may be sent to the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, Development Office, PO Box 534, Villa Maria PA 16155.