With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our mother, Theresa Isabelle Gullekson. She will always be lovingly remembered by her three children, Brian Tyhy, Candace Svederus, Lisa Tyhy, and her grandchildren, Jesse and Dylan (Savannah) Svederus. She was predeceased by her parents, Leo and Valeda Larocque, husbands, Emil Tyhy and Paul Gullekson and siblings Orize Langlais, Philip Larocque, and Hubert Larocque. She is survived by siblings, Elise Boyda and Yvette Lauzon.
Mom was born on January 8, 1933, in a small French Canadian community, Pinewood, Ontario. Mom worked early in life to contribute to the family income by working along with Orize in a local fishing camp during the summer. The money they earned was used to install electricity in their parents home.
After school, she moved to Brandon Manitoba, working in a meat packing plant. It was there she met our father, Emil Tyhy, and they were married on September 12, 1953. Mom took some time off to raise the children and when Dad’s career moved them to Red Deer, Alberta, she returned to work, first at a dry cleaners and then a custom drapery shop, where her skills as a seamstress were recognized. She quickly learned all aspects of the business and with encouragement from family and friends, opened her own custom drapery business in Red Deer. After several years of success, she retired and once dad retired, they enjoyed travelling to Europe, Mexico, Hawaii and the USA. Sadly, in 1996 dad passed away a few years after he retired, and it took strength and resilience to get through the grief of losing her husband of 43 years.
Eventually, Mom decided to holiday in Mexico to visit the friends her and Dad had met during their winters there. Love found her again when she met Paul Gullekson in 2003, who was visiting his brother, and was from Pender Island, BC. A wedding followed and Mom moved to Pender Island to start a new chapter of her life with Paul. Her years with Paul were filled with travels, watching the deer and walks by the ocean. Sadly, Paul passed in 2007 and Mom was on her own again. She kept active by volunteering at the Royal Canadian Legion and Nu To You. Always up for an adventure, we also enjoyed taking mom on trips to Hawaii, Thailand, Vietnam and Costa Rica. The last trip was a Toronto to Calgary road trip to bring home a new puppy, Dino, in Spring of 2022.
In the last few years of life, mom struggled with some health issues but found the strength to beat cancer in 2019. She met life’s obstacles with courage and a will to live. There was never a time when Mom’s opinion was in doubt. She was a women whom earned the respect of many people because of her love for those close to her and generosity to others. Sadly we lost her on August 24, 2022.
Theresa will certainly be missed on Pender Island. She was a good friend, a hard worker,& a fun person in so many ways. She was a strong person, strong willed as well. Her family were first in her mind & heart, & know they will be lost without her. As will grandpuppy, Dino! Condolences to all.
Our deepest and most sincere condolences – Theresa was a very special lady where you always enjoyed laughs – she had such a jolly laugh – enjoyed raising our families as neighbors. I got to enjoy a visit with her at Pender Island after which I understood why she loved it there. I have no idea why we lost touch…I guess it was the distance between us. My prayers and love to Brian, Candace and Lisa.
I am glad Lisa and her mom were able to spend a good amount of time together over the last two years. And I am fortunate to have been able to spend a little bit of time with her during her stay in Calgary. My deepest condolences to Lisa and the rest of the family.