Terence Michael Terrio
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Terence's obituary
On October 13, 2023, Terence Michael (Terry) Terrio passed peacefully at the Strait Richmond Hospital, surrounded by family, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Terry was born in Tunbridge Wells, County of Kent, England in 1945 to Arthur and Margaret Mary (Mimi) Terrio. Terry was raised in D’Escousse with his nine siblings after immigrating to Canada in 1946. Terry married his loving wife Diane on August 26, 1967. Together they raised two beautiful children, their son Michael and daughter Krista.
Terry lived a life rich in experience, service, friendship, and most importantly, love. He loved everyone in his life in a quiet way, preferring to show them how much he loved them through the actions he took. Like the compass he always carried, he gave his family direction. He was their North Star – teaching them how to survive any emergency imaginable, but also how to walk through life with grace, kindness, and selflessness.
He dedicated much of his life to serving his community. For close to 50 years, he served as a member of the St. Peter’s & District Volunteer Fire Department. He was a founding member of the Strait Area Ground Search and Rescue, dedicating time to many search-and rescue missions and earning recognition for his involvement in the Swiss Air Recovery. You could always depend on hearing a dispatch coming through on his radios the moment he sat down to have a good game of cards.
Early in his life, Terry had the opportunity to travel across the country, including spending time in British Columbia logging, before settling back in Nova Scotia. He worked on construction of the heavy water treatment plant and became a Cadet Instructor, Second Lieutenant, with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets Squadron 824, before retiring from Nova Scotia Power’s Point Tupper Generating Station. He was a sought-after welder known for his skill and precision. After retiring, he spent time in his shed tinkering and helping others with their own projects.
He took on different roles in retirement that kept him involved in the community, including being elected as a Village Commissioner for several years with the St. Peter’s Village Commission and helped transport residents at the Richmond Villa to their medical appointments. He continued to demonstrate leadership and applied his planning and coordination skills during his role as the Emergency Management Coordinator for Richmond County.
Despite devoting most of his time to volunteering and serving his community, Terry had many hobbies and was a passionate storyteller. Over the years, he practiced photography, and enjoyed playing cards and darts. He was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and the D’Escousse Yacht Club. Every fall for over 40 years, he went on his annual hunting trip with some of his closest friends, where the stories, laughs, and drinks were plenty and the deer were very few.
Until you knew Terry, you would often think he was quiet, but his quiet manner was a way of ensuring that his responses were always thoughtful and considerate. He was always present and truly lived each moment to its fullest. When you saw that mischievous twinkle in his eyes, you knew that you were about to hear a joke or an unexpected sassy remark.
Terry was a devoted husband, father, poppa, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be forever missed by his wife Diane, children Michael (Madonna) and Krista; grandchildren Michael (Kryst), Alicia (Kyle), and Shelby (Travis), as well as great-grandchildren Gavin, Harper, Mikenna, Jamie-Lynne, Brooklyn, and Danica. He is survived by siblings Larry (Genora), Bernie (Gen), Pat (Carolyn), Margaret (Ed), Chris (Cindy), Joe (Susan), Mark (Tracy), and Lillian (Phil), along with brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Terry was predeceased by his father, mother, and sister Mary Louise (Lulu).
The family would like to thank the palliative care nurses and physicians at the Strait Richmond Hospital, as well as Terry’s wider medical team who were steadfast in his treatment. Terry has donated his body to science to help further medical research for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I, a shared family condition. A celebration of life will be held at the St. Peter’s Fire Hall on October 21, 2023, at 1:30 pm. Memorial donations can be made to the St. Peter’s & District Volunteer Fire Department, Strait Area Ground Search and Rescue, or a charity of your choice.
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