Sister Marie Thérèse Hayes, O.S.B.

Sister Marie Thérèse Hayes, O.S.B. of the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, entered into eternal life on June 29, 2025. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she entered the Benedictine Sisters on January14, 1950 and made her Monastic Profession on August 20, 1951. 

Sister Marie Thérèse was an educator and served as a math teacher at the following schools: St Joseph, Maplewood; Blessed Sacrament, Elizabeth; St Henry’s, Bayonne; St James,Springfield and Bender Memorial Academy, Elizabeth.  Students continue to comment about what they learned from her long after her days of educating have ended.    

Having spent 27 years as a teacher at Bender Memorial Academy and 9 years as a principal, Sister Marie Thérèse had a great fondness for the school, its students, faculty and families.  It was very difficult to have to close the school in 2005, but Sister Marie Thérèse led everyone through the process with the same organization and care she put into all of her years there.          

Sister Marie Thérèse was predeceased by her parents, John and Edmee Hayes. Surviving are her Godson, John Matthew Moore and cousins as well as her Benedictine Community.

Visitation will be held at the St Walburga Monastery, 851 North Broad St, Elizabeth, NJ 07208 on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 from 6:30 to 7:45 PM followed by night prayers. Closing prayers will be at 9:45 AM on Thursday, July 3, 2025 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10am at the monastery. Interment to follow at St Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia.  

In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Walburga Monastery Infirmary Fund would be deeply appreciated.