Theresa Catherine Zmerzlikar

Visitation will be from 4-5 p.m. Friday at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Mass will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

Mrs. Zmerzlikar was a homemaker.

Survivors include two sons, Brian Zmerzlikar of Glendale, Arizona, and Randy Zmerzlikar of Eaton; three daughters, Andrea DeShiell, and Shannon Lee, both of Vancouver, Washington, and Jeanine Gibson of Morrison; four brothers, Larry O’Connor, Tom O’Connor, and Jim O’Connor, all of Fruita, and Jack O’Connor of Grand Junction; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Theresa Catherine Zmerzlikar, 94, passed away on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Hallmark Nursing Center in Denver, due to complications from a recent stroke. She was born on July 8, 1921 in Fruita, Colorado to Luther L. and Jennie O’Connor and was a life-long resident of Fruita and Grand Junction until moving to the Denver area in the fall of 2010. She graduated from Fruita Union High School in 1939. In January 1952 she married Stanley Zmerzlikar. She devoted her life to being a homemaker and mother of five children.

Theresa enjoyed oil painting and writing. She was a member of the West Rockies Writers Club for many years, as well as a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She was preceded in death by Stanley, her husband of fifty years, in March 2002. She is survived by her brothers, Larry O’Connor, Jack O’Connor, Tom O’Connor, and Jim O’Connor of Fruita and Grand Junction; her children, Andrea DeShiell, Jeanine Gibson (Keith), Brian Zmerzlikar (Haidee), Shannon Lee, and Randy Zmerzlikar (Kim); five grandchildren, Kate DeShiell, Yonya DeShiell, Michelle Gibson, Kyle Gibson, and Adam Zmerzlikar; one great-granddaughter, Abby Zmerzlikar; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was loved by many and was a devoted wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and friend.

A visitation will be from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 22 at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. A mass will be celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Saturday, January 23rd at 10:00 am, with burial at Grand Junction Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities.