A funeral Mass for Colorado native Sister Imelda Therese Marquez. S.L., will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m. May 22, 2025, in the Church of the Seven Dolors at Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, Ky. Loretto Co-member the Rev. Marty Lally will preside. Sister Imelda Therese, known fondly by many as “IT,” died May 16 at Loretto Living Center on the grounds of Loretto Motherhouse. She taught and tutored chemistry and mathematics primarily to high school to college-age students for more than a half-century in five states, including within the Archdiocese of Denver.  Sister Imelda Therese was 97 and in the 75th year of her Loretto commitment.

Sister Imelda Therese was born Sept. 16, 1927, in Las Animas, Colo., the youngest of 12 children of Imelda (Sanchez) and  Castulo Marquez, and baptized Virginia Terese Marquez. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in Denver in 1946. She was received into the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross April 25, 1951. Sister Imelda Therese earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, with minors in  mathematics and philosophy, in 1950 from Loretto Heights College, Denver, and a master’s in chemistry in 1962 from Creighton University, Omaha, Neb.

In her first three years of ministry, she taught high school students in Kentucky. She then moved to New Mexico, where she taught high school students for three years. Moving to Missouri, Sister Imelda Therese taught at St. Agnes Regional High in Springfield (1959-1964), and Webster College (now University) in Webster Groves (1964-1966). She then taught high school students at Loretto Academy High for one year in El Paso, Texas, before moving back to Missouri, where she served as a math and chemistry teacher for a decade at Nerinx Hall in Webster Groves (1967-1976). Moving to Colorado, Sister Imelda Therese worked with  migrants in Greeley the summer of 1969. In Denver, she taught at Central Catholic High (1976-1979). She then became a flower arranger and designer, working at Veldkamp’s Flower Shop (1979-1986) and Graul  Florist, (1984-1986). Continuing to teach, she worked with homebound  students for the Denver Public Schools (1986-1987); supervised practice teachers from Durango State College (1987-1988); taught at Beth Jacob High School (1987-2002); and served as a GED/math tutor with Adult Learning Source (2002-2017).  

Sister Imelda Therese moved to Loretto Motherhouse in 2017, where she carried out the charism of Loretto until her death. IT’s vocation to be a Sister of Loretto showed itself in a spirit of courage, generosity and thoughtfulness. She created beautiful cards and cross-stitch. Her lovely flower arrangements, which graced the Motherhouse, showcased her creativity, and in giving lessons in flower arranging, she graciously shared her talents with others.

Preceding her in death were her parents and her siblings, Connie, Lugarda, Aurelia, Art, Arnold, Bernarda, Ben, Joe, Rose, Emerald and Mark. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and extended family. A wake for Sister Imelda Therese will take place 4:30 p.m. Wednesday May 21, at Loretto Motherhouse. Following her funeral Mass May 22, a green burial will take place at Our Lady of Sorrows Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds.

Memorials may be made to the Sisters of Loretto for our mission, c/o Loretto Motherhouse, 515 Nerinx Road, Nerinx, KY 40049 or as an online gift at www.lorettocommunity.org.