I loved your mom ❤️ Her spirit had me laughing everyday that we worked together.  She will truly be missed.

I only met your Mom a few times, but a moment of that time really stands out to me. This was the first time I met her. At your baby shower, I was looking at the beautiful party gifts/gift baskets that we had a chance to win by putting our names in for them. I was standing next to and talking to a very sweet lady. I commented that I loved the idea for the guests' gifts. She put her hand to her heart and said "Really? Are they really ok?  I did them and wasn't sure if they were ok." I told her they were great. The sweet shy smile on her face then warmed my heart and truly endeared her to me. I didn't realize she was your Mom, Devon, until later during the shower.  I'm so glad she was the one standing next to me when I complimented the gifts. I am so sorry for the loss of your Mom, Finn's Gramma. Hold on to the good memories you have of her. Love you! 

I have so many memories of my Aunt Terry - especially growing up. Our families spent so much time together. I remember her first house before Devon and Shelby were born. I remember her putting on werewolf movies and Edward Scissorhands and watching with me in her upstairs bedroom with the lights off. I have so many more memories at their second house and can picture each room so vividly. In the basement was an art station with many drawings and paintings she had done - her artistic ability was unreal. I have a specific memory of a jaguar she had drawn in black and white and it was impeccable and so realistic. She painted a mural in Devon's room on the wall with a nickname she had given Devon (I think it was D Blue D). She made a mean Mexican cheesy dip that I'm determined to resurrect now. I have memories of her helping cook meals in Oma's kitchen; making Christmas cookies with all of us; gardening; caring for her dogs. I sleep with "Smiley" still every night which is a stuffed animal she gave me the day I was born. She was a wonderful Aunt and cared about us deeply. She had tough years but worked hard to get to a place where I believe she felt purpose. I will miss her, her strong hugs and her distinct laugh. 

I was fortunate enough to meet Terry in the past few years when she was becoming her best self. I’m her daughter Devon’s best friend and have become part of the family. 

Though we didn’t officially see each other much until 2022, prior to that she would often call Dev while we were out on an adventure and I would hear her say, “You’re with Alex, aren’t you? You two are trouble.” 

In 2022, as I was helping to plan Dev’s baby shower, I was given the assignment to work with Terry on bringing her creative touch into the shower and to the door of Finn’s nursery. I went to her condo one day and brought her supplies for what we needed.  When I was there I was mesmerized by the evidence of her creativity and uniqueness. I left her with some letters spelling “FINN” to paint, along with an easel that she was going to paint, “We Are Over the Moon to Have You at Devon’s Baby Shower” on (it was space-themed). Well…being the clever, creative and eccentric soul she is, Terry decided to take a different approach on the easel. She showed up to the shower with an alien-themed welcome sign that said something that started with “Greetings, Earthlings!” It was quite the conversation piece. 

The FINN letters turned out perfect. She spray painted several layers onto them, splatter painted, and made them look like a mystifying galaxy. I know Finn (and Dev) will hold onto those tightly. 

Dev often makes really cool and earthy parenting choices and then says “My mom did this with us.” Today I watched her eat out of her garden with Finn and saw her mom in her eyes. I can’t wait to hear about more of these moments and see more of Terry’s art.  

In the last two years I’ve gotten to spend quite a bit of time with Terry, to the point where I started just calling her “Mom” since her family has taken me in as a second family.

Mom,

Thank you for bringing Dev and Shelby into this world and raising them as badass women. Thank you for allowing yourself to be vulnerable during your final years and being the mom that your girls needed during huge transitional phases of their lives. Thank you for being Finn’s Oma and being present every step of the way for his family on this journey into parenthood. Thank you for fighting and living. I’ll never see an alien or something German and not think of you. 

Love, Al