Sr. Mary Tereze Deye

Marcia Deye was born on February 24, 1942, the second of four children of Lawrence and Marcella Deye. She grew up in Fort Wright, where her family belonged to St. Agnes Parish. After completing grade school, Marcia attended Notre Dame Academy. When she began to feel called to religious life, it was only natural that she would choose the community she had come to know and love over twelve years of education. She entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1960 and was professed in 1963.

Sister Tereze attended Thomas More College (Thomas More University), earning a degree in secondary education with a major in history. She later pursued further studies, receiving a master’s degree in religious studies from Providence College and School Counseling Certification from Xavier University.

Her early teaching ministry included junior high assignments at Sacred Heart in Bellevue; St. Mary in Alexandria; St. Augustine in Covington; and St. John in Carrollton. She later taught at Notre Dame Academy and also served in the Sisters’ mission in Harlan, Kentucky.

In 1977, Sister Tereze began what would become a defining chapter of her ministry when she was assigned as both a teacher and a guidance counselor to Bishop Brossart High School in Alexandria, Kentucky. Bishop Brossart became her home for more than forty years. There, she had a special gift for bringing encouragement to her students, supporting them both emotionally and academically.

After Sister retired in 2021, she remained deeply grateful for the many friendships she formed throughout her years in ministry, especially at St. Charles Community in Covington, Kentucky, where she resided for many years. She shared a special bond with the residents there, ministering Holy Communion and faithfully delivering meals to the Village residents.

After over 62 years of religious life, Sister Mary Tereze passed away peacefully on June 24, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves behind her beloved brothers, Anthony and James, her sister, Marlene, and dear nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

We give thanks to God for Sister Mary Tereze’s life of service, her bold and confident spirit, and her dedication to education and all those that she served. May she now rest in the arms of our good and loving God.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Alexandria, Kentucky, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM. Interment in the convent cemetery will follow the reception after Mass.

Memorials are suggested to The Sisters of Notre Dame, Covington, Kentucky, or to  The Sister Mary Tereze Scholarship Fund at Bishop Brossart High School by clicking on blue link or using the QR code below.