Obituary of Mary Teresa Richmond

Mary Teresa Richmond, or Teresa or Terry as she was known to many, died at Royal University Hospital on August 28, 2017 at the age of 92 after a full life. Teresa was born to Cecilia and Fargal Gleason at her family’s farm home outside of Yorkton, SK, on October 17, 1924. She attended a nearby one-room school and then boarded with her grandparents to finish her high school in Yorkton. She did one year of Normal School and began teaching thereafter. She continued to take University classes and completed the equivalent of two years of University. Teresa taught 10 years in both one-room rural as well as urban schools in Saskatchewan at Cherryfield (Rock Dell), Orcadia, St. Mary’s (Saskatoon), Wynyard, and Grandy (Wynyard). She left teaching in 1959 to look after her young family. Between 1953, after marrying Robert Richmond of Wynyard, she was an active farm wife supporting her husband on the family farm until they sold the farm in 1971 and moved to Saskatoon. In Saskatoon, she boarded university and college students studying in the city for many years. Teresa was active in a number of community and church organizations until well into the 21st century. She was involved in the leadership of Guides and Brownies in Saskatoon and Wynyard. Both Robert and Teresa were active in square dance clubs in Saskatoon and Wynyard. They also served in the Catholic Church as lay communion ministers and Teresa was a lector until she was unable to do so. Teresa was also very active in Saskatoon Pro-Life and the Catholic Women’s League. She was a CWL member of St. Mary’s, Wynyard from its inception until 1971, St. Mary’s, Saskatoon from 1971 to 2001, and in St. Paul’s, Saskatoon from 2001 until she moved to St. Anne’s Place in 2013. During her many years in the CWL she held numerous executive positions. She was also a member of the Senior’s Club while she lived at Saskatoon Tower and was president for 2 years. Teresa was a member of the Redemptorist and Grey Nun lay-associates. Above all, Teresa was a devoted wife and mother. Her daughter Beth (Elizabeth)was born in 1955. After difficult miscarriages and stillbirths, Teresa and Robert’s love extended to adopting their son Bill in 1959. Life on the farm was at times difficult physically and financially for them both but they persevered and proudly raised two children with University degrees in education and engineering. She was also pivotal in ensuring they received a musical education. In her later years, Teresa stoically persevered through her husband Robert’s death in 1997 and her daughter Beth’s death in 2009. Teresa made many friends through the years. In recent years, these friends served as her support network helping her with day-to-day activities, doctor’s appointments, and shopping. The family is deeply grateful to all her friends and her caregivers who permitted Teresa to live as independently as possible for so long. A special acknowledgement is made to Simona and her staff at the private care home who cared for Mom this past year through some difficult times. She always spoke gratefully to us for all the love, care and good food that she received while at the home. We also gratefully acknowledge the medical staff at Royal University Hospital who cared for Teresa during her brief stay. Teresa was pre-deceased by her parents Fargal and Cecilia Gleason, two infant children, her husband Robert, daughter Beth, and sister Helen. She is survived by her son Bill, his wife Grace, and their three children Rebecca, James (Richelle), and Angela, and her son-in-law Bill Pederson. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was recently thrilled to hear that she was to be a great-grandmother. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Saskatoon Pro-Life.