Therese was born on March 12, 1928 in Lansing, Michigan to Cyril and Rose Jegla. Therese grew up on the family farm in Westphalia, Michigan and graduated from Westphalia High School in 1945. On October 6, 1948, she married Raymond Thelen of Fowler, Michigan. They began their married life in Westphalia near the home of Therese’s parents and, after the birth of their second child, they moved to Lansing where they spent the rest of their married life. They were members of St. Therese Parish and St Gerard Parish, where Therese sang as an alto in the choirs for many years.
Therese’s developmentally disabled daughter, Diane, instilled a lifelong concern for persons with disabilities. Therese was actively involved with the Beekman Center for developmentally disabled persons and the Greater Lansing Association for Retarded Citizens. She worked for many years at the Michigan School for the Blind and retired from the School in 1983.
Therese was predeceased by her husband, Raymond, daughter Diane, and sons Dennis and John. She is survived by her sons, Bruce (Kathryn), Kenneth (Amy), Roger (Ruth) and Alan (Lisa); by her grandchildren, Rowan, Sally, Georgia and Corey and a great-grandchild Jasper; and by her siblings, Mary Lou (Sister Cyrilla), Charles, Thomas, David and Barbara.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 5 at St. Gerard Church, 4437 W. Willow, Lansing. Visitation will precede the mass at the church at 9:30 a.m. Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Lansing. Arrangements by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel.
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