Obituary of Teresita Burke

Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life. �" Albert Einstein Teeta was a wonderful mother, wife, sister and friend and she held her head high until the very end. For the memories she left are strong and dear and because of them she will always be near. Teeta was born the sixth child of Ambrose and Mercedes Greene and was fondly referred to as "the baby" by her family. She was greatly loved by her sisters Renee, Resee, and Teena, and her brothers Myles and Keith. Even during the final stages of Teeta's illness, she took on the project of restoring her mother's gravesite. As always, her thoughts were centered on others. She grew up in Point Verde. While still in her teens, she met her future husband, Lester. Lester was immediately smitten with her as she drag raced with him when they first met! They married in Newfoundland, packed up their few possessions and moved to Ft. McMurray, Alberta. It was almost 50 below the day Teeta arrived in the cold North. Did she turn around and go home? Not Teeta!! She and Lester stayed for 30 years. They stuck with one another through illness on both sides, always supporting each other. They had always planned to retire in Newfoundland and enjoyed their last year and a half in Paradise. Teeta and Lester were blessed with four healthy children. They had three daughters, Tara, Melissa and Rikki and one son, John. She was a committed mother to her children, always loving, protective and caring. But, she didn't have to raise her voice to let the kids know she meant business. She had that look that said it all!! I remember once remarking to Teeta how all her children were born exactly four years apart. When I asked her about this once she smiled and said it just happened this way, but I suspect there was more planning than that. Teeta made a strong presence in her children's schools and taught them the importance of an education. She could be counted on to volunteer for the kid's activities and enjoyed watching Rikki play softball so much that she stepped up to organize the league. Teeta was indeed proud of her beautiful children! Teeta was a woman who was always true to her convictions. She was never one to go half way on anything, for when she committed she committed with her whole heart. Those who knew her would say she was a private person, a caregiver, someone who would always put others ahead of herself. They would say she was loving, intelligent, supportive, strong and greatly admired as a leader by her co-workers. Teeta had a great sense of humour and was a devoted sister and daughter who would travel all the way across the country just to help celebrate a milestone in her family. She once flew to San Diego, California just for Thanksgiving dinner with her sister Renee! She laughed when she told the story of her son John saying, "Mom, if someone asks you to go to dinner in another country, you could say No!" Teeta enjoyed traveling with Lester… trips to Las Vegas, visits to California and Florida and even just their lunches together. She loved fine wine, fast cars, dogs and reading on the deck on a sunny day. What is it that we remember when we think of Teeta? I think everyone who knows her very well would agree with me on this. It was her sense of self, the way she said her name, Teresita! She was the kind of person that would leave no doubt about her position on something. She was not one to impose her opinion on anyone else, but with a quiet reserve and strength you would probably know where she stood. She was respected by all who knew her. She worked for nearly 25 years at Syncrude where she was promoted to Area Supervisor at Site Services. She earned the admiration of her colleagues at Syncrude. One of her good friends, Judy wrote that Teeta was such an incredibly strong, supportive and kind person. She said, "I have seen this in you at work and in your family life.  I remember so often when we worked together in payroll how I would be having a "fit" and you would just stay calm and get us through whatever crisis of the day was happening.  You were such a natural leader, you never got excited, never hurt people, and so one of the first words I think of when I think of you is: ADMIRATION." Judy went on to describe one incident where they were on an all night payroll project. A team member wanted to fly home to Calgary and Teeta calmly took his suitcases, locked them in an office and told him he could have them back when the payroll was finished! The project was completed and he made his plane! Another of Teeta's coworkers, Holly, reminisced that Teeta was the kindest, most easy-going person she'd ever met in her life.  She said, "You never have a bad word to say about anyone.  You set the bar for the rest of us." Teeta was a treasure to her in-laws, and they often remarked how grateful and thankful they were to have her in their family. Her mother-in-law, Gladys, often referred to her as the rock of Gibraltar. Teeta set the standard and continually lived up to it. Her brothers and sisters-in-law loved Teeta for her strong character, her calm disposition and dry sense of humour. We were so impressed by her as a young girl. The fact that she could drive a car as good as any man and still have long flowing blond hair was quite remarkable to us. Teeta faced her illness as she did any other challenge in her life - with a courage, and a determination, that left people in awe. Yours was a short life, but a good one. You had so much promise, so much potential, and the world is a far lesser place with your passing. So now, as your journey continues, we remember you in these words: What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; All that we love deeply, becomes a part of us.