March 8, 1932 – July 21, 2025

Sister Mary Denis Lessard, OSU, died peacefully on July 21 at St. Andrews at Francis Place in Eureka, Missouri. She was 93 years old.

The daughter of Peter and Bertha Whitehead Lessard, she was born Mary Louise Lessard on March 8, 1932, in Glendale, Missouri. She entered the Ursuline community on July 15, 1951, and professed her vows on Jan. 16, 1954. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of New Rochelle and a master’s degree in education from St. Louis University.

Sister Denis loved young children and taught primary pupils throughout the Central Province during her more than 40 years of ministry. She taught at St. Patrick School in Galveston, Texas, from 1957-60; St. Bernard School in Alton, Illinois, from 1960-62; Sacred Heart School in Festus, Missouri, from 1962-65 and 1972-74, and Ascension School in Oak Park, Illinois, from 1965-69.

She taught at Corpus Christi Elementary School in Jennings, Missouri, from 1969-72; St. Thomas School in Decatur, Illinois, from 1974-75; public school in Arcadia, Missouri, from 1981-90; Holy Child School in Arnold, Missouri, from 1990-93, St. Clare of Assisi School in Ellisville, Missouri, from 1994-2000, and St. Eustachius School in Portageville, Missouri, from 2000-04. After retiring, she volunteered for many years at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in St. Louis County in the kindergarten and with parish preschoolers.

Wherever Sister Denis went she endeared herself to everyone she was with. She was known for her tremendous sense of humor and love of entertaining others. She also had an artistic bent. She loved dance and art and took art classes at St. Louis Community College. In addition to her drawings, she expressed her creativity in the teaching materials and bulletin boards she designed for her classrooms. She later enlivened her retirement home with her art.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, the Rev. Joseph P. Lessard. She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Gene Hayes.

A Mass of Resurrection was celebrated for Sister Mary Denis Lessard, OSU, on July 24, 2025, at Ursuline Academy Chapel in Kirkwood. Burial was at St. Peter Cemetery in Kirkwood.