Theresa Francis Rini

Terry was beloved mother to Charles (Callie), Darryl (deceased), and twins Thomas and Darlene (Bob). Cherished mother-in-law to Bette (Goldstein). Adored grandmother to Michael, Anthony, Adam, Allie (Mike), and Bobby; great-grandmother to Jayden, Birdie, Averley and Charlie.

Theresa was the only child of Joseph Genovese and Betty Jastromb, Joe being an immigrant from Sicily with a large family of siblings who all settled in Cleveland and later San Jose, California. Family was everything growing up.

She grew up in Cleveland during the Depression, which (at times!)left an influence of saving money. She would peruse the newspaper ads looking for the store that had the best price of the day on chicken. She didn’t mind running to two different stores to save a few cents per pound!

She graduated from John Adams HS in Cleveland, then worked at Thompson Products before marrying Thomas C. Rini and starting a family at the age of 21.

From mom, we learned love, generosity, warmth, compassion, and the beauty and possibilities in the world around us. She had a way of just being there for her family, as consistently involved as she was in her children’s lives. Whether it was for the birth of a child or the death of a beloved pet; spending months during the summer watching a grandchild grow up; or just coming along with the family on a beach vacation- mom was there and wanted to be a part of it, for support or whatever was needed - because she loved us. And we loved her.

She was a beautiful woman with a stunning appearance- keeping up and following fashion trends, hairstyles, jewelry; a favorite customer of the shopping malls and boutiques of the day. If she had not devoted her younger years to raising four children, she could have easily been a fashion model or a buyer in Paris.

Mom was athletic all her life. Her good health reflected a mindset of staying active and healthy eating. She knew about kale and blueberries before they became superfoods! Anything having to do with water she wanted to be there- Swimming, boating, scuba diving, water skiing, or just walking around the Shaker Lakes, or one of our favorites she introduced us to - South Chagrin Reservation. Bicycling, tennis, snow skiing, ice skating; dancing, walking; hiking - she ‘did it all.’

Terry parasailed in her sixties; snorkeled in Hawaii and toured Europe and NYC in her eighties. Always open to learning and new ideas, she kept her mind alert and active, reading a newspaper until the age of 96.

She knew the blessing of friendship. Her lifelong Cleveland friend, Natalie, survives her - just one year younger than Theresa and friends over 80 years (!)

She held to her Catholic faith. She walked alone to church as a child. Terry was always connected in some way to the church, in her later years as a faithful prayer warrior. Just minutes before her passing she was praying the rosary!

In 1996 she retired from Cleveland to Surprise, AZ near Phoenix. The active senior lifestyle in her community of Sun City Grand was perfect for Terry, and she did tennis, travel club and drama club; swimming, bicycling and walking. Terry embraced her independence in the desert.

Her final journey began in February 2020 when she became a stroke survivor. It was a significant change where she lost much of that independence; yet all the decades of healthy outlook, eating, and activity helped her survive and thrive even in this final season of life.

Terry has touched so many lives, not only her family’s but many others who were fortunate enough to cross her path. Her quality of life remained almost to her last weeks, and being able to have her family around her at the end - for these we are truly grateful. As the Lord welcomes her, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” we say goodbye to our precious loved one with sadness; knowing that sadness - and this world- is only temporary.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.surprisefuneralcare.com for the Rini family.