Therese Pierce

Therese B. Pierce, 76, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, at her home, surrounded by her loving husband and family.

She was born July 17, 1932, in East St. Louis, Ill., daughter of Dan Carroll and Ella Hagene Carroll Costello. She was later adopted by Dan Costello.

Therese attended St. Joseph Catholic Grade School and graduated from St. Therese Academy in 1950. She and Victor L. Pierce were married Aug. 12, 1950, in East St. Louis.

She had been a cook at Southeast Missouri State University's Towers Cafeteria, the bakery department at Child's IGA and the cafeteria at St. Vincent de Paul Grade School. Therese was secretary 12 years at St. Vincent's Parish in Cape Girardeau, where she was a dedicated member more than 50 years, and an active member of its Women's Council. Along with her husband Victor she was deeply involved in the Marriage Encounter Movement, serving as an executive couple.

In 1995 she initiated the "Ugly Quilt" program at St. Vincent's Parish, providing hand-made sleeping bags and toiletries for the homeless in Cape Girardeau and the surrounding area. Therese was a volunteer at Birthright 25 years, as well as donating her time two years at the Lutheran Home.

She combined her love of crafting with her dedication to helping the needy by crocheting baby caps for the nursery at Southeast Missouri Hospital, sewing lap robes for the elderly at local nursing homes, crocheting baby afghans and donating them to Birthright, collecting white elephant gifts for bingo at local nursing homes and putting together gift baskets for many charity auctions.

Therese was also involved in her community as a den mother for St. Vincent's School Cub Scout pack during the 1950s. In recent years she volunteered as a judge for the Cape Girardeau County Election Board for primary, general and special elections.

As a two-time cancer survivor she participated in and supported the We Can Cancer Program affiliated with Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Survivors include her husband, Victor L. Pierce; two sons, Michael (Bonnie) Pierce and Steve (Sherri) Pierce, both of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Patti (Kevin) Wetzel of Grain Valley, Mo., Barbara (Scott) Slinkard of Millersville; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home. Parish prayers will be at 7:45, followed by the rosary.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Vincent de Paul Church, with the Rev. Patrick McDevitt officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.

At her request, the family is asking that in lieu of flowers donations be made to either Birthright, American Cancer Society or Southeast Hospice.