Goodnight sweet, kind, loving Teresa - our friend, our Mother, our Grandma....
Words can't express how devastating it was to learn last Monday of Theresa's passing. We are heart broken. I am devastated. I loved Teresa with all my heart.
We were so blessed to have Teresa in our lives and will be forever grateful for the care and love that Teresa gave our children.
We send all our loving thoughts and deepest condolenses to Teresa's beloved husband Jim, her son James, daughter-in-law Charlene, her sister Isobel, husband Raul and their son Lucky (Theresa's nephew) her brother Luciano and sister and niece in New York. May God give them strength during this most difficult time.
Teresa was such a kind, thoughtful, loving person and so selfless...always putting the needs of others before herself. How cruel that she be taken from us so soon, so young.
I know that Theresa loved, cared and worried about her family so much; as most Mothers do I know....and dare I say it...Teresa really was a 'Mother Teresa' to all who knew her.
Although Teresa came into our lives only eight years ago when our son was just 14 months old I feel that I've known Teresa all my life, and when we lost my Dad exactly two years ago Teresa was great comfort and support to me personally. I loved Teresa like another Mum. We could really talk to one another about everything and anything. Teresa was a fantastic listener and a great friend and like a Grandma to our children Valentino and Pia Francesca.
I've always told Valentino that Theresa has contributed massively to the boy he is now, and to the young man he will become and only yesterday I told my daughter to hold onto the buggy as she walked beside me - just as Theresa taught my son to do; to keep him safe. Please God, keep our Angel Teresa safe in your keeping - she really was one of life's beautiful souls.
It saddens me deeply that I won't have my dear friend Teresa in my life to chat with anymore; to talk things through and that Valentino especially will have Teresa gone from his little life too; but rest assured we will keep her memory alive.
When Teresa and Jim moved from Ealing to Kent it was a wrench to know that Teresa wasn't just 'around the corner' anymore, but we didn't allow distance to be a barrier to our friendship continuing; we visited whenever we could and mutually we knew that our relationship would endure. I was so pleased that Theresa and Jim were able to be there for Valentino's Holy Communion in May last year. It meant so much to us to have them there and we were so grateful that they had made the long journey to be there. We will hold the memories dear of that day in particular.
Teresa had a strong faith in God; even in times of adversity. It therefore feels doubly cruel that such a good loving soul such as she be taken from us before time but may Teresa rest in peace, free from the pains and troubles of this world. Our lives are richer for having had Teresa be such an important part of them, for which we are eternally grateful but now we are immensely poorer for her absence from them.
A couple of days ago when I imparted the sad news to a member of our parish church (Sts Peter and Paul, Northfields where Teresa used to worship) and this lady, who perhaps only knew Teresa by sight exclaimed 'I can't believe it, so young, so healthy' and said 'Teresa, Portuguese lady 'lovely lady'.
You see Teresa, you were part of all of our lives; you literally walked amongst the Northfields community, loving and caring not only for the children you looked after, ferrying them to and from PreSchool, School and their various classes but also for older members of the community too; whom I know you used to visit after church on a Sunday. I always used to say you were the 'Pied Piper of Northfields', always to be seen with a trail of children by your side. Now dearest Teresa you're forever walk by our side; in our lives, as we remember you always.
Maybe in time I will be able to concede 'Say not in grief 'she is no more' but live in thankfulness that she was', but for me, not right now....and not today....I love and miss her dearly, but our loss is Heaven's gain...God has one more Angel now and her name is Teresa....
'A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says 'she is gone'. Gone where?
Gone from my sight, that is all; she is just as large as when I saw her. The diminished size, and total loss of sight is in me, not in her, and just at the moment when someone at my side says 'She is gone', There are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout, 'There she comes!'
Love you forever Teresa. May you rest in peace and rise in glory.
Daniela and Mark Corrado-Mulrooney, Luca, Valentino and little Pia Francesca
xxxxx
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