Teresa A. Gilleo

Teresa Arigo Gilleo, age 78, born in Barrio San Juan, Iba, Luzon, Republic of the Philippines passed away on Friday, October 18, 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida, peacefully with her husband, children and grandchildren by her side.

After living in the Philippines, being a military family, Teresa lived in Boston and then Jacksonville, North Carolina, prior to arriving here in Jacksonville, Florida. An avid sports player, she played softball on local softball leagues and bowled along-side some of the great PBA bowlers of the 60’s, such as Dick Weber and Earl Anthony. Once arriving in Jacksonville, Florida, she continued her love for bowling where she not only bowled, but was the Christ the King Catholic Parish Bowling League Secretary for over 35 teams. She also taught her sons how to bowl and play softball, among many other sports. Known to all as “Mother Teresa”, Teresa blessed everyone she met with compassion, love and an eagerness to help with anything. Teresa celebrated her love for the United States by becoming a citizen in 1961. In raising her sons, she was very active, volunteering at various school events and donating United States flags to schools in need of new flags to fly high and proud. In addition to volunteering at her children’s schools in the 70’s and 80’s, as her older children moved into adulthood, Teresa became active in the Arlington American Legion Auxiliary Unit 283 as a lifetime member. It was there where she found her true love of helping veterans, making sure each one was blessed with love and adoration. She was the President of the Arlington American Legion Auxiliary Unit 283 20 times during her 38 years there. During the 80’s, Teresa rose to the level of 5th District President for the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Florida. It was during her term that the 5th district, the largest district land-wise in the state at that time, was 100% in membership—a first for the district. This accomplishment would never again be achieved, being that the district was split into two separate districts due to its large size. From her accomplishment as the 5th District President, she was elected Northern Area President of the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Florida, where she oversaw the split of the 5th district into two districts (5th and 17th). During Teresa’s time with the American Legion Auxiliary, her goal was to ensure ALL veterans were blessed with feeling loved and cared for. Teresa then became the American Legion Auxiliary Department of Florida’s Representative for the Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) at MacClenny. Prior to her arrival, no real support was provided by the American Legion Auxiliary to this hospital. She informed auxiliary members around the state about NEFSH at MacClenny to ensure those veterans were taken care of by providing food, gifts, kitbags, lap robes and toiletries. This tradition, started by her loving heart, continues today….Just prior to a holiday

season celebration, Teresa told her family that the holidays are about being with family and friends more than it is about gift giving. So she began a tradition of opening the doors of the Arlington American Legion Post 283 on Thanksgiving and Christmas. For over 25 years, Teresa would feed a home-cooked holiday meal to veterans, families, friends and anyone who walked through those doors. She fed in excess of 10,000 people over those 25 years. The tradition started by her loving heart continues today….Teresa’s heart stretched wider than just American Veterans, in 1995, she began as a volunteer at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. She volunteered in Robbery, ID, Internal Affairs, Community Affairs and Forfeiture sections. Adopted by officers in the various sections as their own “Mother Teresa”, she was honored and recognized by all of the Sheriffs MacMillan, Glover and Rutherford through various awards such as Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Volunteer of the Month several times, as well as other departmental and Sheriff Office awards. In the 2000’s, she brought her gifts, talents and love for veterans to the VA Outpatient Clinic in Jacksonville. For several years, Teresa volunteered monthly to make and serve sandwiches and baking cakes, also providing coffee and juice to veterans waiting to be seen at the clinic. Again, the tradition started by her loving heart continues today….At the end, as her heart had stretched beyond the limits of what her body could handle, she began to pass the torch on to the next generation of loving volunteers. The next generation celebrated her love and dedication by returning that love to her in the way of awards and honors. She was named the first Arlington American Legion Auxiliary Unit 283 Member of the Year, celebrating all of her years of service. In 2008, she was honored as one of “12 Who Care”, an award given by First Coast News, celebrating volunteerism on the First Coast. Throughout all of her volunteering, “Mother Teresa” worked as a bartender for the American Legion Post 283 where she used her tip money to purchase supplies to make meals for veterans. For some veterans, that would be their only home cooked meal that week. She prepared sandwiches, chili, soups, fried rice, cakes, and other various foods, blessing it with her loving hand and loving heart. Teresa did take time off for herself. She played bingo at the Arlington Lions Club every Friday and Saturday night, and until last year, every Monday and Tuesday at the Jacksonville Women’s Club. Even though her heart gave out at the young age of 78 her traditions, love for volunteerism, dedication and the gift of giving will be shared for generations to come through her children, grandchildren and those whose lives she has touched, blessed and shared on this earth. Each person who came in contact with Teresa Arigo Gilleo was blessed by the beloved “Mother Teresa”.

She will be missed dearly, and is survived by her loving husband (James Joseph “Gunny” Gilleo) of 57 years, her four sons (George Francis (Davie) Gilleo, James Almario (Oksuk) Gilleo, Patrick David (Michelle) Gilleo and Robert Joseph Gilleo), her three granddaughters (Elaine Cho Gilleo, Darlene Cho Gilleo and Kaitlyn Anna Gilleo), and her grandson (Justin Michael Gilleo). Additional survivors include her three sisters-in-law (Catherine (Dick) Smith, Ann Higgins, and Regina Cheeves), her brother-in-law (Frank (Mary) Gilleo), and her dear friends, including her brother “The Cookie Man” Jim Rudy and those at the American Legion Post 283 and Auxiliary.

All are welcome to join the family for a traditional Catholic internment service to be held on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 1:00 pm at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218-1247.

The family will also receive friends and celebrate Teresa’s life at the Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills Funeral Home, 850 St Johns Bluff Road North, Jacksonville, Florida 32225 (904-641-9755) on Wednesday, October 23, 2013 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm and as well as the Arlington American Legion Post 283 and Auxiliary, 9459 Ft. Caroline Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32225 (904-641-8111) from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm on Thursday, October 24, 2013.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for you to continue the tradition of giving by volunteering your time or donating to a charity or cause of your choice in her honor.