Mary Teresa Tolle

Teresa was born December 27, 1937 in Dallas to Oscar and Anna Marie Stenson Tolle. She grew up the younger sister of older brothers Mark and John, who preceded her in death, in Dallas at the family home on Cedar Springs Road.

Teresa attended Ursuline Academy of Dallas, Marillac College, the University of San Francisco and the Catholic University of America before feeling the call to join the Daughters of Charity as a nun in 1958. Teresa's ministry in the Daughters of Charity covered many areas, but she had a passion for working with refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos during and after the war in Vietnam, including a stent in the Philippines directly assisting those who had left their homes and set out by sea in search of a better life. Much of her time in the Daughters of Charity was spent in Springfield, Missouri, which she fondly called home for many years and where she continued working with refugees and serving in the Chancery in Social Ministry.

A renaissance woman to the core, in 1980 Teresa felt another calling, this time to the service of her fellow citizens in the law. In her 40s, she entered St. Louis University School of Law graduating with honors and returning to Texas in 1985, joining the Dallas County district attorney's office as an Assistant District Attorney. She diligently served Dallas County over time and positions with increasing

leadership responsibilities, including assistant public defender in the public defenders office and Magistrate Judge in the County Criminal Court.

In 2007, Teresa ran for Judge in Dallas County and was elected to the Dallas County Criminal Court where she served as a Criminal Court Judge for the rest of her legal career. She was well-known in Dallas for her compassionate approach to her position and her understanding of how circumstances can dictate fate, and what fairness really looks like.

Teresa had many interests beyond the law, being actively involved throughout her life with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other service to the church. She was a keen musician, and from 1986 to 1996 sang and played guitar in the Dallas Symphony Chorus, one of the great joys of her life, particularly involving the Chorus’ global travels, bringing music, happiness and joy to people all over the world.

Teresa's niece and nephews remember her as that incredible aunt who always had time to talk to you, to listen to you and to teach you. But the best lessons of all were taught simply by the way she lived her life and served and treated others.

She was the quintessential role model. Everyone looked forward to her appearances at family gatherings, birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and her niece and nephews remember fondly what a outstanding gift giver she was – you always looked forward to your present from Aunt Teresa.

Teresa is survived by her sister-in-law Marilyn Tolle, her niece Anna Marie Tolle, nephew Michael Tolle and his wife Lorena, nephew John Tolle and his wife Rosanna, nephew James Tolle and his wife Julie, and nephew Greg Tolle, along with grand-nieces Phillipa and Annelle Tolle and grand-nephews Charlie Randall, and Sebastian, Oscar and Adam Tolle.

Teresa's memory is and forever will be, to her family and myriad of friends, a blessing.