Therese Maryanne Lee

Therese was born as Therese Maryanne Allec on June 20, 1937. She was raised on orchard farms in Placentia and Anaheim. She attended Saint Boniface elementary school and Mater Dei high school. After high school, she attended Fullerton College to obtain a 2-year degree. She worked at Gilmore’s restaurant in Anaheim, where she met her husband, David (Dave) Lee, who owned a nursery nearby.

From the date of their marriage on June 14, 1958, one cannot tell Therese’s story without including Dave. Therese and Dave spent their entire lives together in Anaheim. They were devoted to each other and to their 6 children, creating a loving home and ensuring that their children attended parochial schools. They suffered the tragic loss of their daughter Bridget at age 6 from Leukemia, but they carried their love for Bridget in their hearts forever.

They were also devoted to their Catholic faith, attending services at St. Anthony Claret every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation. They volunteered regularly at the church and over the years established many life-long friendships with several other parishioners.

Therese worked full time for most of her adult life, including 40+ years combined at St. Joseph and St. Jude Hospitals, with most of that time working in the human resources department. Meanwhile, David’s career in horticulture progressed from nursery owner to private landscape architect, and then on to grounds supervisor for municipal parks and universities.

Therese maintained close relationships with her siblings and mother as well. This included, for many years, weekly trips to her mother’s home, along with her children and her brothers. She visited frequently with her brother Leon and his wife Harriet, who lived just a few blocks away. She was close with her sister, Sister Lucille, who fortunately spent most of her vocation in Anaheim. In addition, the extended Allec clan would regularly get together for major holidays, either at Dan’s home, Leon’s home, or, eventually, Therese’s home.

Therese was passionate about keeping a clean home, she looked forward to family road trips, she enjoyed giving advice to her favorite football and baseball players through the TV. She revelled in a quiet dinner at home and evening spent watching TV with Dave and the kids, and, when the kids were older, she kept the whole family informed of each other’s lives through her regular phone calls.

Therese will be remembered most for her giving nature, always caring for those around her and putting others first. She will be missed.

Therese was preceded in death by

● David Lee, her loving husband of 62 years

● Bridget Lee, her beloved daughter

● her parents, Julian and Gladys Allec

● Her brothers Dan and Leon Allec and her sister, Genevieve Allec (Sister Lucille)

● Her sisters-in-law, Laverne Allec, Lorraine Allec, and Harriet Allec

Therese is survived by 5 children.

● Her son Timothy (Tim) Lee, and his wife Liz.

● Her daughter Bernadette (Berni) Rehhaut, and her husband Larry

● Her daughter Genevieve (Genny) Sourapas, and her husband John

● Her son Jeremy Lee, and his wife Nancy

● Her daughter Sarah Ahumada, and her husband Michael.

Therese is also survived by 17 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren.

Services & Memorial Information

● Funeral Services: Monday, August 24, 2026, at 10:30 AM (Rosary at 9:45, Visitation from 10:00 to 10:30 AM) at Saint Anthony Claret Catholic Church, 1450 E La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92805

● Interment: immediately following the funeral at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 7845 Santiago Cyn Rd, Orange, CA 92869

● Celebration of life immediately following the interment at the home of Genny and John Sourapas, 337 N. Wayne Ave, Fullerton, CA 92833.

Memorial Donations: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to:

● Leukemia Research Foundation: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/ThereseLee

● Alzheimer's Association: https://events.alz.org/fundraisers/jeremylee/therese-lee-memorial-fund

● CHOC (Children’s Hospital of Orange County) Foundation: https://raiseup.choc.org/honor/ThereseLee