Marie Therese Dorce

Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on June 10, 1933 to Clara Joseph and Armand Theodule, Marie Therese was a paragon of virtue. In fact, few would say they had ever heard her have a cross word with anyone. She was elegant, educated, and gracious—simply a great role model for her children, family and community. A good and virtuous woman, she was next to the eldest of seven siblings on her mom’s side and three on her dad’s. On June 4, 1962, Marie Therese married Jean David Dorcé and together had two children, Danielle and Darline Dorcé and raised Yolette Dorcé and Marcia Desai-Dorcé as her daughters. As well, she served as a loving mother to her husband’s other children, DeJeannie, Lorna, Jean David, Davidson, and Jason Dorcé.

Marie Therese was considered the Matriarch of her family in that it was due to her courageous spirit that many in her family were able to migrate to the United States. In 1965, she left Haiti to work as a nurse’s aide at Mercy Hospital in Key Biscayne and from there, was able to first bring her husband, Jean David and then her mother, Clara Joseph and subsequently the entire clan of Dorcés, Josephs and Theodules. Our family owes her a great debt of gratitude for being the pioneer that carved the road to a better life outside of Haiti. Together with my dad, they would guide and help the family in their matriculation to the States and foster their achievements and advancements.

More importantly, however, Marie Therese was a woman of God. She was mighty in her beliefs and unshakable in her faith. She was a tower of strength and wisdom and well-respected in the Ministry of God. Entrenched in her faith, she served as the Musical and Youth Director at Church of the Nazarene during our formative years. She helped rehearse the youth of the church year after year for our annual Christmas and Easter pageants, until we all grew up and went our separate ways. She was an awesome woman of grace and peace. She was a beautiful soul, a great wife, an amazing mother, an elegant lady who never complained no matter what the circumstances! Often, she would be seen, reading and studying the Bible in thoughtful contemplation, and did not just talk the talk, but walked the walk.

On June 14, 2022, four days after her 89th birthday, Marie Therese was called home after living a long fruitful life and is now singing with the angels. She was predeceased by her husband, Jean David Dorcé by 26 years and by her sisters, Claudette Bastien and Edith Marc and brother, Gesner Mezidor. She is survived by all her children and grandchildren, and by her siblings Lola Nelson, Claudy Joseph, Kenol Duperval, Lionel Paul, Gladys Theodule, and Webert Theodule.

Mommy Therese, you will be sorely missed, and we will remember you always. Rest in Grace…