Therese G Fox

Therese G. Fox (nee Garvey) was born on March 21, 1929, and died on April 29, 2023, at the age of 94. She was born and raised on Long Island by her parents, Ruth and Clarence. She and her seven siblings were part of a tightly knit Irish Catholic family. She is the dear sister of Kathleen Garvey (James Kearns), Eugene (Carol-dec), and the following deceased: Eugenia Marie, OSU; Thomas; Robert (Patricia-dec); Helen, BVM; and Joseph.

Therese attended Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English. While her family called her Thérèse, she was nicknamed Terry in college. She met her husband, Thomas D. Sr. (who predeceased her in 1998) in college. She married Tom in 1950, shortly after she graduated from Chestnut Hill.

She is the beloved mother of Thomas D. Jr. (dec), Paul (Kathleen-dec), Mary (Leo Firme), Kevin, Michael (Diana) (both dec), Brendan (dec) (Karen), Jennifer Garczynski (John-dec), Colleen Hopkins (Scott), Kathleen Fox (Marc Banones-dec), and Pamela McGonigal (Charles). She is the cherished grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of 4.

During the 1950s, the family lived in the Chicago area and in 1960 settled in Broadview Heights, Ohio. Raising ten children is a formidable task, but Therese did not give the impression that she saw her role as unusual. She was a person who prioritized family.

Her Catholic faith was integral to who she was. She valued education and was a lifelong learner. She participated in the liturgy committee, the RCIA team, and educational programming at Assumption Church, often taking on leadership roles. She made some decades-long friendships with people whom she met at church.

Therese enjoyed learning and taking on interesting challenges. In her 50s and 60s, she embarked on various employment opportunities, including teaching English at an all-girls’ high school, working at a bookstore, and selling advertisement space for a local newspaper. Into her 70s, she took college classes through a program offered by the seminary, earning accolades from her professors for her thoughtful work. Her coursework led her to a deeper understanding of the importance of social justice, and specifically, standing with the poor.

She appreciated the little things in life like admiring nature and taking a dip in the ocean or one of the Great Lakes. She was an avid reader and a tough Scrabble opponent even into her 90s. She adored babies and was excited about each new grandchild and great-grandchild.

Family suggests donations to Assumption Church, 9183 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, 44147, or Catholic Relief Services.

A MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, MAY 13 AT 10 AM AT ASSUMPTION CHURCH. PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH. Interment All Saints Cemetery. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT THE DONALD A. FAULHABER FUNERAL HOME, 7915 Broadview Road (at Sprague) Friday, May 12 from 4-8 pm