Born in Shediac Bridge, New Brunswick, Theresa grew up at the “Pointe des Poiriers” in a loving home where the sea was never far from view. The adored daughter to her father Alban and mother Eva and sister to her late siblings Bertha, Gerard, and Ruth, Theresa was surrounded by a family that came together as one and cared for one another. This instilled in her deep values and faith that she would bestow on her own children, grandchildren, and neighbors in Lynn. She also excelled early in school, earning awards for her knowledge and hard work, and secured a seat at Our Lady of Sacred Heart Convent School, a center of excellence in higher education for Acadian women at the time.
After working in Moncton, New Brunswick for a brief time, she moved to the United States to join her husband, a carpenter, in Lynn. Theresa made Lynn her home, raising five sons and one daughter on Western Avenue, and was an active parishioner and volunteer at the former St. Jean Baptiste Church in Lynn. She could be seen serving food to children at the St. Jean’s Primary School cafeteria and later selling men’s shirts and ties at the Empire Department Store in Downtown Lynn. She loved to play cribbage with her husband, trying her best to avoid a skunk at St. Michael’s Hall and in leagues across the city. She was also a fantastic cook, hosting Thanksgiving and other gatherings with her beloved apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, and peanut butter blossoms, and welcoming friends and family near and far for weeknight dinners and card game nights. In recent years, she moved to Ipswich and was cared for by her daughter Irene, but she always followed the goings-on of Lynn, called on her family while remembering every detail, and kept up her love of shopping at Macy’s and eating out in restaurants including her favorite, the Causeway in Gloucester, right up until her death. Theresa was a person who deeply cared for others, proudly upheld her faith and devotion to the Catholic Church, and maintained a life of vitality, blessing us with her presence, wit, and love. She will be dearly missed by all her family and friends in Lynn, Ipswich, Maine, New Brunswick, and beyond.
Theresa is survived by her children: Maurice “Moe” Richard and his wife Mary of Lynn, Irene (Richard) VanSchyndel of Ipswich, Noah Richard of Maine, Bernard “Pete” Richard and his wife Martha of Maine, Gerard “Jerry” Richard of Lynn, and Thomas "Tom" Richard of Lynn. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Matt Richard of Salem, Marc Richard and his wife Paulle of Maine, Anya Warner and her husband Andy of Newton, Adam Richard of Maine, Kendra Richard and her partner Luke of Colorado, Laura VanSchyndel of Colorado, Paul VanSchyndel and his wife Jenny of Singapore, and Hunter Richard and his wife Rylie of Lynn. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Conner, Colton, and Adéla of Maine, her daughters-in-law Marianne Messina-Richard of Lynn and Donna Richard of Maine, and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Friends and family are invited to gather and attend visiting hours on Tuesday, May 17th from 4pm-7pm at the Cuffe McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple St. Lynn MA. On Wednesday May 18th, a funeral will be held from the Cuffe McGinn Funeral Home at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass at the Saint Pius Church, 215 Maple St. Lynn at 10am. Inurnment will be at Pine Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Foundation at www.bcrf.org.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cuffemcginn.com for the Richard family.
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