Therese M. Mudd

Of Lewiston, NY, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Our Lady of Peace Nursing Home. She was born in Denver, CO, on June 29, 1931, daughter to the late Marion and Helen (Connell) Simmons.

She was married for 56 years to James F. Mudd, who passed away in 2011.

Terri is survived by her six children: Michael; Peggy Cagle (Robert); Kevin (Brenda); Ellen; Andrew (late Rebecca); Mary Sanderson (Larry). Also, five grandchildren: Aaron (Sara); Jennifer Roberts (Tyler); Brian; Luke Sanderson; Christopher,; and her great-granddaughter, Hero Mudd.

Terri graduated from Immaculate Heart College (Los Angeles, CA) in 1953, where she majored in Political Science. She married Jim in 1955 in Bartlesville, OK, and began raising their family there. In 1960, they moved to Buffalo, NY, and finally settled in the Village of Lewiston to raise their family.

During her long life, Terri worked with a variety of church-based and political organizations, most notably United Cerebral Palsy Association, Christian Family Movement, Democratic committees on the village, town, county, and state levels, New York State with Governor Mario Cuomo, Ecumenical Task Force, Historic Preservation Board of Lewiston, Opportunities Unlimited, Faith and Sharing, Niagara County Mental Health Board, St. Peter’s Church, and Niagara University faith community.

In 1972 and 1980, Terri served as a delegate to the National Democratic conventions. In 1974, she received a Master of Arts in Teaching of English from Niagara University. In 2012, she was elected to the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees.  In 2014, she won a Lifetime Achievement award from YWCA of Niagara. In 2017, she wrote and published Without a Party: A Story of Romance and Politics in a Nation Divided, a novel about President John Tyler.

Terri’s lifelong passions were writing, teaching, social justice, and environmental activism. She enjoyed designing and working in nontraditional instructional roles ranging from home-teaching of high school students to adult writing classes at the Niagara Falls Public Library. She was regularly published on a wide variety of topics. Most importantly, her faith was integral to all she did.

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 24 from 3-7 p.m. at the RHONEY FUNERAL HOME, 901 Cayuga Street., Lewiston.

In lieu of flowers, Donations in her name, may be made to Empower: https://www.empower-wny.org/donate or Heart, Love & Soul  939 Ontario Avenue Niagara Falls, NY  14305.  https://heartloveandsoul.org/donate/

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, August 25 at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s R.C. Church, 620 Center Street, Lewiston.

Visit www.rhoneyfuneralhome.com for guest register.

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