Teresita O Hamilton

Born just before the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II, Tessie, then called Veronica, became a lost orphan during the war. She was no older than five years, wandering and scavenging for food, when she saw a fruit-bearing tree. While picking the fruit, she was stopped by a kind woman named Luz who warned that the fruit was poisonous. Instead, Luz and her husband, Joseph, took her in and fed her. They adopted her as their daughter and named her “Teresita.” Tessie grew up surrounded by her loving family on Bantayan Island, Philippines.

As a teenager, Tessie moved to Olongopo City, where she met the love of her life, Harold Hamilton, who was stationed at the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay. Harold and Tessie were married in 1961 and moved from city to city with their growing family during Harold’s Navy career, eventually settling in Jacksonville.

In her mid-40s, Tessie went back to school to complete her GED. She secured a job at Crowley-Maritime, where she worked until her retirement in the early-2000s. Tessie missed her Crowley family so much, she un-retired and went back as a temp for a few more years.

Tessie was a long-time parishioner at Resurrection Catholic Church, where she sang in the Creation Choir. She loved to sing and instilled her love of music in her kids. Tessie lived her life to the fullest and had many hobbies. She had the greenest of thumbs and generously shared her fruits and vegetables. She loved being in nature, fishing, camping, and bird watching. She was an animal-lover, always had a pet dog, and even had a pet monkey in the Philippines. Tessie loved fun and games, playing bingo, and especially bowling. She regularly bowled on 3 leagues at the same time. She was also a member of the Women’s 500 Club, traveling around the U.S. to compete in tournaments with her bowling friends.

Wherever she went, Tessie made friends easily. She spread laughter and joy, and shared her Filipino culture and food with those around her. She was a wonderful cook, and taught all of her kids to cook from a young age. She cultivated a strong family bond and continuously showed her family how much she loved them. There was nothing she wouldn’t sacrifice for her family.

Tessie is survived by her children: Harold Ray (wife Andi), Patrick (wife Elizabeth), and Tanya (husband David); her grandchildren: Jeremy, Matthew, Graham, James, Elise, and Connor; and her great-granddaughters: Elizabeth and Violet. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold, her brother, Minglo, and her parents, Luz and Joseph Olidan.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, October 6th at 10:00 am at Resurrection Catholic Church, 3383 University Blvd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32277, followed by interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207. A reception will follow inside Greenlawn Funeral Home.