Maria Theresa Regirer

REGIRER, Maria Teresa, born February 7, 1917 and educated in Portugal, Maria Teresa traveled from Portugal to Brazil to live with her sister in 1946. With her beautiful skin and lovely blue eyes, she was soon employed by Helena Rubenstein Cosmetic Company to travel country wide conducting seminars and presenting their line of cosmetics. This was a time when women were rarely selected to travel extensively or represent a business. After a successful nine years, she was chosen by another cosmetic company, Charles of the Ritz. Maria Teresa continued traveling, lecturing and giving seminars. She often spoke of traveling by a small plane to remote areas. Mindful of the fact that a small plane could go down in the Amazon jungles, she had a ring designed with a wide band and pertinent information engraved inside, should she ever experience a disaster. In 1963, while still in Brazil, she met her future husband. He was there as deputy exposition manager for the U.S. Department of Commerce, attracting exhibitors and setting up trade fairs in cooperation with American Embassies in Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala and Uruguay. Mr. Regirer was struck by her beauty and charm. Unrelenting in his pursuit, and after requesting her assistance in choosing a fragrance for a gift, the vivacious Maria Teresa agreed to accompany him to a State affair. The rest is history. They married in March, 1964, in Williamsburg, Va. She became a citizen of the U.S. two months later. After her marriage, she spent time with her husband in Zurich and in Barcelona, while he was involved in consulate duties. His various duties took them all over the world and to every state in the U.S. except Alaska. With her husband, Maria Teresa was a frequent visitor on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C. and the Diplomatic Rooms of the Department of State, attending numerous receptions and dinners. In Richmond, she joined her husband in the management of his nursing facilities. When regulations were passed that required a nursing home administrator to become licensed, she quickly studied and was at the only Richmond woman to pass the first examination administered by the State Board of Nursing Home Administrators in 1970. Her license number was 30. She was always very proud of this accomplishment in spite of the fact that English was not her first language. Always an advocate for the long term care resident, she made sure that residents of The Windsor, where she was the administrator for more than 35 years, received excellent care in a clean, safe and caring environment. Always important, as well, was her staff. She had a commitment to education, working to expand opportunities for continuing education for long term care professionals. She was always the gracious hostess, whether at nursing home functions, serving with the Lawyers Auxiliary, Garden Club or in the many areas her husband was involved. She had impeccable taste and style in everything she did. Maria Teresa, a very patriotic lady, loved America and the home and garden where she has lived for over 40 years. The family will receive friends Friday, February 7, 2014 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Woody Funeral Home, 1771 N. Parham Rd., Richmond, with a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. REGIRER (Cont'd.) Her funeral will be an 11 a.m. graveside service on Saturday, February 8, 2014, at Hollywood Cemetery. Condolences may be left at woodyfuneralhomeparham.com