Our Teresa moved through worlds of love. She was born out of great love, cherished by her parents and her family throughout her lifetime. In her bones and from an early age, she knew that as one of her favorite poets, e.e. cummings, said, “love is the whole and more than all.”  She carried that love forward, dedicating her life to its study and practice.

She followed her heart and, in doing so, gave us permission to do the same.

She approached every task, no matter how mundane, with presence and awareness.

She brought that same fullness of presence and gentleness to every interaction. She listened intently and with curiosity and an open heart, and she provided her loved ones with encouragement, acceptance, and unconditional love.

It was a gift to all of us to spend time with her and to hear her stories.

Any message she conveyed about spirituality was always grounded in her core belief that God is love, which gave us the message that we, too, were divine beings worthy of love.

And as we sought our own spiritual paths, Teresa provided space for our reflections, questions, and discoveries, always encouraging us to follow our hearts. She gave us the sense that the possibilities for spiritual exploration and growth were limitless.

She also shared her reverence for the natural world and her belief in the interconnectedness of all beings. She believed that we all have a responsibility to care for the earth and its creatures, which she did in her daily life, inspiring us to do the same.

And in the end, when everything else fell away, she taught us the value of enjoying life’s simple pleasures to their fullest – the light from a ray of sun, the softness of a kitty’s snuggles, the warmth of a wood fire, the beauty of golden leaves, the comfort provided by the touch or voice of a loved one.

Teresa’s profound wisdom, unwavering acceptance, and embodiment of divine love touched us all. We mourn the loss of her physical presence, which leaves a great hole in our lives. But we also know she will always be within us – in our lineage, in our bones, in our hearts.

We will continue to carry her message of love forward, sharing her stories and practicing loving one another every day as best we can.

We love you, Teresa, and we will carry your heart in our hearts always. We will never truly be without you.

Teresa & her kitty, Yoda