Therese Frances Marchell

Therese Frances Marchell, age 98, died peacefully on April 29, 2026, in Ithaca, NY. Therese was born in Binghamton, NY on December 22, 1927, to Steve and Julia Stephenson. Her father had immigrated from Poland, and her mother’s family was from Czechoslovakia. Therese attended Saints Cyril and Methodius Slovak elementary school and church in Binghamton.

After graduating from Binghamton High School in 1945, Therese attended Keuka College to study nursing. She was a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps, created to train nurses to serve in World War II and on the home front. The war ended while Therese was in school, and she graduated in 1949 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

During her nursing training, Therese reconnected with a family friend, Thomas (Tom) Marchell, who had returned to his family in Myers, NY after serving in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. They were married in 1950 and raised four children in Ithaca. Therese was a devoted mother and grandmother who loved to cook and was affectionately known as the “Casserole Queen.”

From the 1960s to the 1980s, after completing graduate study at Cortland State University, Therese worked in the Ithaca City School District as a School Nurse-Teacher in multiple schools. She was at the forefront of prevention and health education, teaching first aid, nutrition, heart health, smoking prevention, sex education, and the importance of mental health to countless students. Therese was strongly committed to public health and spent late nights keeping track of children’s immunization records.

In their retirement, Therese and Tom divided their time between Ithaca and Fountain Hills, Arizona where they enjoyed many years with relatives and a network of friends. In Ithaca they volunteered with the Immaculate Conception Church Food Pantry and helped care for their grandchildren.

Therese’s faith in God was the foundation of her life and the basis of her strong moral compass. Her spirituality was marked by a deep sense of gratitude, enduring positive attitude, and caring for those in need. Her kindness and generosity were evident in her service to the community, many friendships, and dedication to her children and grandchildren.

Therese was predeceased by her infant daughter Joan, husband Tom, son J. Theodore (Ted) Marchell, sisters Marie Slodki and Rita Fairchild, and her brother James Stephenson. She is survived by her children Christine Marchell, T. Frank Marchell (Cynthia Wojcicki), and Timothy Marchell (Sarah George); grandchildren Joseph, Abigail, Owen, Gracie, and Anderson; beloved sister Joan Harmon; sister-in-law Sandra Stephenson; and many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Therese’s family thanks all those who provided her with exceptional care and support in recent years, including the staff of Bridges Cornell Heights, Hospicare and Palliative Care Services, Reilley Physical Therapy, Therese’s home health aides, especially long-time aide Allison Blomquist, and the faithful community of Immaculate Conception Church.

Therese made the generous decision to donate her body to advance medical education and research. A memorial Mass will be held on Friday, June 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca, NY, with a reception to follow at the church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Bangs Funeral Home, and the memorial Mass will be livestreamed on its website. Online condolences can be left at www.bangsfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier or Catholic Relief Services.