Teresa Connie Stewart

Teresa Connie Stewart (also known as Teresa Marsh) was born on July 4, 1936 in Warren, Ohio to Stella and John Graham (the birth was recorded the next day making her “official” date of birth July 5, 1936). She was the “baby” amongst her eight siblings (Bill, Kay, Sylvia, Mike, Mary, Gera, Angelo, and Peter). Her parents were Greek immigrants, providing for the family on the sole income of a dishwasher and protecting their children in a rough town that was a battleground between the Cleveland and Pittsburgh mafias.

The family moved to Santa Monica in the mid 50’s and lived in an apartment building on the corner of 23rd and Ocean Park, which became known as their “kibbutz” and where the family maintained a presence for the next 60+ years. The family forever supported each other and were as tight as a family could ever be. A major turning point for them was when Teresa’s sister Mary met Nick Janios through a neighbor looking to set up her brother. Nick helped turn the family’s fortunes as he was the manager at the Brown Derby and Fox Commissary and helped many of family members find jobs at the studio. Teresa’s own fortunes turned when she met Sam King who ran night clubs in Los Angeles, and they soon married. Teresa gave birth to her only son, Bill, in 1965. Sam passed away two years later and Teresa found herself a single mother. Teresa and Bill moved back to the kibbutz and she scrambled to find work as a Vons check-out clerk. She found love again when she asked her SMCC World Literature professor, Jim Marsh, out on a date. Jim was also recently widowed and had two children, David and Jimmy. They married in 1972 and almost immediately took a four-month trip driving a VW pop-top van throughout Europe. Notable stops included Paris, where Jim was a Fulbright Scholar, and Greece where they visited Icaria, the island where Teresa’s mother was born. Teresa and Jim loved living in Westwood and she considered the 70’s and 80’s on Kinnard Ave her “best years”. Teresa’s family grew and she dearly loved Jim’s brother and sister in-laws Mary, Walter, and Marsha, and their spouses Fred, Elayne, and Garry, respectively, as well as their children.

Jim passed away in 1990 after battling heart disease for many years. Teresa continued to took care of her step-son Jimmy, who was severely autistic, for another 25+ years and was the sole source of happiness in his life. Her patience and love with Jimmy were remarkable.

Ever resilient, Teresa found love once again with Loyde Stewart, who would be her third and final love. They married in 2000 and moved from Westwood to Laguna Woods where they would enjoy their final years. Loyde was a gentle, straight-shooting southern gentleman, never boasting or imposing on others. They had fun in Laguna Woods where they made many friends, had great neighbors, and participated in many activities including lawn bowling and dancing. They lived large: Teresa drove a Corvette and Loyde a Harley. They remodeled three condominiums at Laguna Woods. Loyde passed away in 2023. Teresa was widowed for a third time and despite her ailing heath, she kept moving forward enjoying her weekly Tuesday and Wednesday night dinners with Bill and aspired to be a 100-year-old Yoga instructor.

Teresa was a loving, resilient, optimistic, spiritual, independent, compassionate, and loving mother, grandmother, friend, aunt, and sister. She is survived by her son, Bill, his wife, Cecile, and her grandchildren James, Isabelle, Kayle, David, and Keith, and great-grandchildren Evan, Lillian, James, and Kennedy. She will also be dearly missed by her daughter in-law Kim and many nephews and nieces, notably David, Ken, Karen K., Karen W., Rick, Mary Lou, and Dean. If you would like to honor the wonderful person Teresa was, live life like she did: to the fullest and according to her daily mantra to “learn, grow, care, and share”, marvel at nature’s beauty with loved ones, and open your heart to help the underdogs.

To celebrate Teresa’s joyous life, a service will be held at 11am May 4 at Fairhaven Memorial at 27856 Center Drive in Mission Viejo.