Theresa Elizabeth Schulte McGarry was born November 28, 1936 in
Covington, Kentucky as the youngest of eight siblings. She grew up
surrounded by brothers, sisters and cousins, whom she loved dearly.

Theresa was a quietly determined person who from an early age decided her
life priorities: Faith, Marriage, Children, Education and Travel.

She spent her early high school years at a convent and considered becoming
a nun. Before her senior year she and the mother-superior decided she was
better suited to a secular life so she returned home for senior year. Lacking a
high school friend group, her college age brothers took her to the Newman Club
at the University of Cincinnati, where she soon met Rod McGarry (more on him
later).

At the age of 19, Theresa received her teacher certificate and began teaching
third grade. Her students delighted in the occasional appearance of Ms.
Schulte's handsome boyfriend. Within the year, Rod and Theresa were married
at St. Bernard, with the entire third grade in attendance.

Following a brief time in Philadelphia where Rod was stationed in the Army,
Theresa and Rod moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and quickly started a
family, which grew to four daughters followed by three sons. Theresa was a
very active member of St. Thomas More Parish, and she and Rod were
especially close to their CFM group.

Theresa ran a tight ship in her home with grocery lists, menus, chalk board
reminders, dinner time whistles, assigned chores for every family member and
weekly routines. You could count on a hot breakfast every morning,
homemade cookies after school (limit of 2). and a sit-down dinner that started
and ended with a prayer.

She was the ultimate Scout. She lead her family on countless camping
expeditions, where she served as navigator, managed the supply chain for
weeks long vacations and provided three meals a day on a camp stove. She
was a terrific baker and even figured out how to bake birthday cakes over an
open fire.

Theresa was also an actual Girl Scout. Volunteering for over 25 years, she
worked her way up from Brownie Troop leader to President of the Baton Rouge
Counsel from 1990-1992. Her commitment to scouting was limitless, even
getting her commercial driver's license so she could drive the troop around the
country on a school bus. She loved scouting, and her scouting friends.

Education was another lifelong passion of Theresa. At the end of every
school day, she would form a line of her children signing tests papers, checking
homework assignments and monitoring everyone's progress. She was equally
interested in her grandchildren's education, always inquiring about what
classes they were taking and their academic progress. She and Rod
established the McGarry family education assistance fund. They provided
financial help with higher education and in return asked their grandchildren to
send a letter each semester with an update on academics and activities.

Rod and Theresa visited all 50 states, and about the same number of foreign
countries. As the years went by they progressed from tent camping to trailer
camping to cruises and Grand Circle trips. They especially loved their trips to
South Africa and a cruise circumnavigating South America. But Theresa's
favorite travel was going to meet a new grandchild.

Theresa's love of children was evident as grandchildren started to
arrive. She flew to Germany to welcome her first grandchild and flew to France
to welcome her nineteenth. She looked forward to and celebrated the addition of
every grandchild like it was her first.

Theresa had a deep seated belief that "every child is a gift." After her seven
children were in school, she provided infant care for the children of teachers at
the local parish school. She treated those children like her own - one more
example of the quite service that defined her life.
In 1997 she and Rod began sponsoring an annual family trip to the
beach. They realized that their seven children lived in seven different cities,
and they didn't want their grandchildren to be strangers. Every year the
growing number of grandchildren would spend the days playing on the beach
and then at night pile into beds like tired puppies. Grandma and Grandpa's
trips to Summer House are where cousins became life-long friends.
As important as family and education and travel and children were, they
paled in comparison to her devotion to the love of her life Rod McGarry. To
their very last day together, they professed their love each day as if they were
newlyweds. Theresa never doubted that Rod was the finest man who every
walked the face of the earth and that God brought them together for a
purpose. She never, for one day, took that for granted. Her devotion to Rod,
and his adoration for her, are an inspiration to her family and a legacy that will
live long after her passing.

Theresa was confident in her faith. She did not fear death and looked
forward to the end of her earthly suffering and her reunion with her siblings
and friends in the afterlife. She left a poem for her family to read after her
passing - offering comfort to her last day:

"I am home in Heaven, Dear Ones;
Oh so happy and so bright!
There is perfect home and beauty
In this everlasting light.
All the pain and grief is over,
Every restless tossing passed;
I am now at Peace forever
Safely Home in Heaven at last.

Theresa is survived by her husband of 67 years, Rodney McGarry of
Martinsville Virginia as well as her seven children (Patty Laurent & Rodney,
Ann DeJean & Ron, Barbara McGrew Harriman & Jay, Kathleen Veenhoven &
Harrie, Jimmy & Donna McGarry, Mike & B. Lee McGarry, Thomas & Jamie
McGarry) as well as 21 grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.

Theresa's priorities were never in question: Faith, Family, Education and
Adventure. She lived her life every day as an example, and we are all better
people for having her in our lives. She will be missed by many.
If you would like to remember Theresa, please make a contribution to your
local Girl Scout council or bake an apple pie or coffee cake for someone you
love.

A visitation will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Martinsville on
Thursday May 18th from 5:00-7:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at 3:00
pm on Friday May 19th at St. Joseph's followed by a graveside interment at
Roselawn Burial Park.