Maria Teresa (Vargas) Lee

Maria Teresa Lee, age 60, of Old Hickory, Tennessee passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024 after a long, brave fight against cancer. She is survived by her husband of 30 years (Lars), two daughters (Elizabeth and Jenelle), two sons (Brandon and Jason) and four granddaughters (Kaitlyn, Rylee, Sophia, and Hannah). She is also survived by her two brothers (Pendo and Tony) and three sisters (Cecilia, Ana, and Monica).

Maria was a beautiful soul with a kind heart and brilliant mind. In her younger years, Maria was a high school cheerleader and frequently played the piano in her Colonia, NJ home. She filled the house with music playing songs from Lionel Richie to Queen to Beethoven. She frequently took her younger siblings under her wing anytime they needed anything. She would give you the clothes off her back while offering you a place to stay, a car to drive, food to eat, and money in your pocket.

After graduating from Colonia High School (NJ), she attended Rutgers University College of Engineering and received her BS in Mechanical Engineering graduating with High Honors. She completed her Masters in Mechanical Engineering from University of Southern California while working at Hughes Aircraft. During her career, Maria progressed from mechanical engineer to systems and project management to Program Manager working for several of the major Aerospace companies. Although her career was cut short due to her illness, her accomplishments and awards were numerous and her contributions to critical programs were recognized for their importance.

While working for Delco Electronics in Goleta, CA she met her future husband and would spend the next 30 years making him the happiest man in the world while helping raise his two daughters and then bringing their two sons into our world. Maria was nurturing and fun with all the kids, including becoming the “adopted” mom of the kids friends who frequented our house. When our girls started their families, Maria excitedly transitioned into her “Bachi” (grandmother) role to her four granddaughters and enjoyed every moment she had with her angels. Maria’s greatest accomplishment, by far, was her contributions to her family that has produced two wonderful daughters that are now raising two beautiful daughters each and her two sons that are starting their lives and careers after graduating with engineering degrees following in her footsteps.

Maria was born in Kansas City, MO but grew up in Costa Rica and Japan before moving to New Jersey. She was a Jersey girl (and we have pictures that prove it), but she moved to Southern California and would spend 35 years there. In 2021, the family moved just east of Nashville, Tennessee where she passed away in her home with family at her side, just a week after her 60th birthday.