Zita, one of nine children, was born Nov. 15, 1902, the daughter of Edward and Sarah Vessels Brumlow of Fancy Farm, Ky. She completed elementary school at St. Jerome School in Fancy Farm. She came to Mount Saint Joseph Academy in 1920 and entered the novitiate in November 1924, her senior year. Zita received the Ursuline habit on August 15, 1925, and was given the name Sister Marie Therese.
Prepared for the teaching apostolate, Sister Marie Therese was assigned first to Holy Name of Mary School in Calvary, Ky., to teach the upper grades for three years. Her following assignments included: St. Francis, Peonia, Ky.; New Haven, Ky.; Flaherty, Ky.; Missouri (Wilhelmina); New Mexico (Farmington); Knottsville, Curdsville, Holy Cross, and Fancy Farm, Ky.; Nebraska City, Neb. (St. Benedict); Louisville (St. Columba); Nebraska (Plattsmouth); Owensboro (Blessed Mother); Missouri (Affton); Fredericktown, Lyndon, Shively, St. Angela Home, and St. Pius X in Owensboro, all in Kentucky.
Sister Marie Therese retired to Mount Saint Joseph in 1973 suffering from diabetes and arteriosclerosis. She died on December 23, 1986. Father Anthony Shonis, chaplain, and Msgr. Bernard Powers celebrated the funeral Mass on December 26. Sister Marie Therese’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery. Among her survivors was her Ursuline sister, Sister Michaeline. Her other Ursuline sister, Sister Mary Francis, preceded her in death.