Obituary of Terrie Lee Teare

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountaintop then shall you begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs then shall you truly dance. Terrie died peacefully at home on July 22, 2004, surrounded by her entire family. She was born on June 20, 1950 in Taber Alberta. She grew up in Barnwell, Cardston and Lethbridge before moving to Calgary in 1960. In 1970 she met her husband Tony, and a year later they were married. Terrie graduated from the University of Calgary in 1971 and after a brief career in property management Terrie commenced her life’s most important work, raising her two children, Jania and Travis. Terrie balanced family and her passion of caring for society’s marginalized. She worked for a number of years providing therapy programs for both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. She worked as a facilitator with various programs in the diverse fields of career counseling, parenting, violence prevention, poverty awareness, and personal growth. In 1992 she became a facilitator with the Alternatives to Violence Project in the Bowden Institute and then became a Community Chaplain working with adult offenders and ex-offenders within the federal corrections system. In 1995 she completed her Master’s degree in Counseling at Gonzaga University. She briefly worked with the community Conferencing Project for Young Offenders before retiring in 2001. Terrie felt blessed to be invited into people’s lives through her work, her Christian community at St. Laurence Anglican Church in the Lakeview Community, and her many dear friends. She is survived by Tony, her husband of thirty-three years; her children, Jania and Travis and Jania’s loving companion Kris Armitage; Steven Horvath Terrie’s bonus chosen child; Dwayne Buta, her brother; and Aurel and Betty Buta, her parents. She was our light and our pillar. We will miss her, but we will strive to live our lives by the example that she set. Terrie is survived by her family through marriage, Donna Ekstrom and family, Tom and Karen Teare and family, Clarene and Ken Hildebrandt and family, Tina Teare, Gary Teare, Karen Teare and family, Lyle and Chris Teare and family, Don and Wendy Teare and family, Laura and Russ Strilchuk and family and Patty Teare. Terrie is also survived by a very large and loving extended family, and by innumerable friends from her many different circles. Terrie was an inspiration to many, and a friend to all. She will be dearly missed. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Terrie’s Life will be held at Christ Church (3602 – 8th Street SW Calgary) on Monday, July 26, 2004 at 11:00 A.M. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com. The Teare family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the compassion and care received from her physicians, oncologists, all staff on Unit 47 at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, and from the Palliative Home Care Team. With their support, she was able to leave us in peace. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to: Alberta Cancer Foundation c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre 1331 – 29th Street NW Calgary, AB T2N 4N2. In living memory of Terrie Teare, a tree will be planted at Nose Creek Valley by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W., CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 243-8200.