Miss you, Theresa! Never forget you

Your sister, Mary Ann

I will miss my Aunt Theresa. She was so excited to reconnect with the extended family at a reunion in NW Indiana some years back, and again at a reunion in San Diego. At the latter, she paid to rent an inflatable bouncer for the kids to enjoy on Mission Bay. In November 2019, I visited her with my dad, Uncle Bill in her room at her residence. It was a terrific visit for us all, but especially for dad and Theresa to connect again and enjoy stories from long ago. She got on the floor to retrieve beer that was stashed under her bed for us! I will try to post photos and videos of that day if I can figure it out. Peace!

"May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine upon your face, and the rains fall soft upon your fields until we meet again......Irish Verse

Rise High, George and Mary Ann

Growing up it was sometimes hard for my friends to understand why we didn't call our grandmother Grandma and that we called her Gran Theresa instead. But the older I got, the more I understood that grandma certainly didn't fit and that Gran Theresa suited her perfectly. She wasn't your typical grandmother - she wasn't going to bake cookies with you or have you sit with her at the table and do arts & crafts or play card games. Gran Theresa would instead show you the wonders of the outdoors. She and her second husband Jim opened my eyes to the world of adventuring and they took the time to teach me so many wonderful and amazing things at a very young age. I remember experiencing the thrill, excitement and skill of rock climbing in Joshua Tree (which I have had the joy in sharing rocking climbing with my nephews now), fried ice cream in Yucca Valley, mountain bike riding in Mammoth, spending multiple summers in Mammoth, Jim always having a can of Diet Dr. Pepper in his hand after the ride and they both always had a hand towel across their lap as not to spill on themselves in the car (a life hack I have taken with me), visits to Yosemite National Park, horseback riding near Convict Lake, summiting the back of Fairview Dome multiple times to witness another memorable climb of Gran Theresa’s, learning how to ski and skiing many winters in Utah, hiking, fishing and exploring. They instilled a passion in me for the outdoors that I still carry with me to this day. I always loved hearing their stories of their days with the Sierra Club, their climbs all over the world, what they saw, the people they met, what they learned and all they experienced. It still amazes me everything they accomplished. I will really miss hearing Gran Theresa’s stories from the trail or from her time climbing rock – in the last few years of her time here, the stories and locations got harder and harder for her to remember but when she did remember you could see her eyes light up. She always explained to me that rock climbing was her true joy and that it was like a dance...you had to do it so carefully, it required incredible patience, you had to know your next move and it was so incredibly beautiful when it was executed perfectly. She always would tell me how much she loved to dance on rock...she was so amazing at it and you could tell it was where she felt most at home. I was able to see and experience so much in my life because of Gran Theresa and I learned so much that I will take with me especially as I continue in my outdoor adventures. I am forever grateful to both her and Jim for giving me their time and patience to show me everything they showed me. I am so thankful for the many trips my brothers and I were able to go on because of them, what we were able to experience and I am forever thankful for the memories that I am able to take with me. Gran Theresa gave me a wonderful gift that I will keep with me always and anytime I am out adventuring and exploring in the beautiful outdoors I will always think of her. I will always miss you saying “HI HONEY!!!” in your loudest highest pitched voice when you used to see me or when you would answer the phone or you quietly humming Ava Maria as you sat just starring off in the distance, the endless amounts of tissues you would have stuffed up your sleeve that would always manage to fall out and be left all over the house, your love for Drumsticks ice cream cones and how you always managed to get a chocolate stain on your shirt or sweatshirt and then wondered how it got there, always putting ice cubes in your wine, you trying to get us to each KASHI cereal, you listening to your books on tape, you telling my banquet date that I didn’t put out, you wearing your shirt that said “do I look like a fucking people person!”, saying “SPELL IT!” when your hearing aids where giving you fits, you telling me to take care of myself because “getting older is the shits!” Like I said, not your typical grandmother but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Thank you for always believing in me, encouraging me, wanting to know what I had going on in my life, for listening to me and for the time you always gave me. Thank you very much for everything you showed me, shared with me, and taught me. I am forever grateful. Rest easy now Gran Theresa, I love you and miss you and I hope you are dancing on that rock. 

For a very loving ,vivacious, Aunt. Will be remembered by countless people she has touched in life.

"May joy and peace surround you,

Contentment latch your door,

And happiness be with you now,

And bless you evermore."

I hugged you for the last time 2 years ago when we stopped in San Diego to visit you and the Rutherford Clan. It was an exceptional visit with you and your daughters and grandchildren. We talked for a longtime about the past, growing up in Griffith. Nurse's training at Gary Mercy Hospital. Nostalgic.. you talked about your relationship with your brothers, their wives, andattending high school in Griffith. Your relationship with Orland, Jim, Kim, Dawn, Tanya, and Brett, your brothers and sisters. You loved them all IN YOUR OWN WAY. Remembering how you insisted I take ballet lessons with you in Gary. I was terrible at it, and you realized my talent was not in dance. You and Orland were quite a dance couple ON AND OFF THE FLOOR..You loved your brothers more than Pat and me.  You also loved their wives. Your love for Chuck and George exceeded your love for Pat and I. I will never forget your love of History, reading every kind of history book available.
Your passion was rock climbing with Jim. We will never forget ascending Crystal Crag with you in Mammoth, and sliding down the back. We were on our backside. One adventure after another. IN 2004, George you and I experienced the Lewis and Clark Trail throught the Dakotas on Hwy 1808 thru the Badlands and Bitterroot Mountains.  A few years later Ed, you, George and I drove up to the border of Canada to go dog sledding. Great fun
learning all of the commands. there is so much more that could be written about your kids, spouses, and wonderful grand children and great grandchildren. I am sorry that our children, Kathy/Mike and Kimand our grandchildren didn't get to know you better.
Two years ago in San Diego, we had a remarkable visit with Dawn Tanya,.and your gramdkids.  All great memories. Love you always Mary Ann and George