Therese Ann Zemanek
Jan 26th, 2026
Therese A. Zemanek, aged 82, of Hyannis MA, passed away peacefully on January 26 at the Terraces in Orleans, MA.
Born on January 9, 1943 in Brooklyn, NY to John and Mary Caplice, Therese attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating second in her class in 1961. While she loved acting, Therese ultimately chose to follow her faith and devote herself to raising a family instead. After spending many years in Westerly, RI, she moved with her family to Cape Cod in 1989. She worked for many years at Paraclete Press, where she was responsible for the sales team which serviced churches, religious retail stores, and religious schools across the US with thoughtful bible studies, devotionals and Christian living materials. Therese loved her call to serve customers with enthusiasm and care, and took the same attitude in training and caring for the other sales representatives under her leadership. She went on to work for The Word Among Us, where she happily dedicated herself to spreading the Gospel through the mission of this publishing company until her retirement in 2022. Literally thousands of churches, schools and store ministries were helped and flourished during her years of engagement in publishing. Among other outreaches, Therese served faithfully as a part of the R.E.C. (Residents Encountering Christ) Prison Ministry at Barnstable County Correctional Facility for many years. Therese leaves behind her a legacy of faith in Christ and surrender to His Love, Will and Direction. After being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021, she continued to give thanks to God, and continued to share in earnest the Surrender Novena: “O Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!” Her devotion to God and the Blessed Mother remain a part of her legacy to all those who knew Therese.
Therese is survived by her husband David Zemanek; children Sr. Regina Lynch, Thomas Lynch and Todd Lynch; and grandchildren Sr. Hilda Lynch, Michael Lynch and Brendan Lynch.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, February 2. There will be a viewing at 10am followed by a Mass at 11am at St. Francis Xavier Church, 247 South St., Hyannis, MA 02601.