Theresa "Terry" Wasilewski

Our beloved mother Theresa (Terry) Wasilewski unexpectedly passed away in her Rohnert Park, CA home of natural causes on January 5, 2021. She was 93 years old.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Eugene (Gene) Wasilewski, and sister Dolores Kalafut of Plymouth, PA. She is survived by sisters Irene Matinas and Dorothy Stepanik of Kingston, PA and four children: Joseph and wife Karen, Janet and partner Jim, Laura, and Ann and husband James.

Terry was born August 3, 1927 in Larksville, Luzerne County, PA. She met her husband Gene while working as an “Elizabeth Arden Girl” in Pomeroy’s department store in Wilkes-Barre, PA. They married November 18, 1950, moving nine times to seven different states as he climbed the corporate ladder. With each move Terry, the perfect homemaker, efficiently set up the house for our comfort and took pride in organizing each new kitchen exactly the same as the last one. Late in his career when Gene started working fulltime from home, she famously teased, “I married you for better or worse, richer or poorer but not for lunch!”.

Terry, a devout Catholic all her life, began at her family church in Larksville, PA where she was honored to be selected May Queen. After moving to Rohnert Park, she assisted at St Joseph’s Church in Cotati, CA and was an active member of Society of St. Vincent De Paul and the Women’s Guild. For years she helped distribute food to the less fortunate out of a trailer on the church grounds. She had a green thumb and won multiple ribbons at the Sonoma County Fair. Her love of plants was reflected in the flowers she cherished throughout her yard. Every Fall, we enjoyed the bounty from her vegetable garden.

Terry was a devoted mother and wife, and a beautiful, vivacious, strong-willed, and loving presence who touched the lives of many. We will forever miss her easy smile, her joy in entertaining, and her fabulous cooking.

Due to COVID-19 funeral services will be private. Terry will be laid to rest at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Santa Rosa, CA next to her beloved husband.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in her name to St. Vincent de Paul District Council Sonoma County/St. Joseph Conference, P.O. Box 1095, Rohnert Park, CA 94927 or online at www.svdp-sonoma.org.

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