Mrs. Theresa I. Gavin

May 2, 1928 - October 6, 2017

THERESA ISABELLE (Gleason) GAVIN Theresa passed peacefully on Friday, October 6, surrounded by her loving family. Theresa was a wonderful, intelligent, loving and steadfast friend, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Born May 2, 1928, to John J. and Catherine Cahill Gleason, hardworking Irish immigrants, she was a lifelong resident of Lowell, graduating from Lowell High School in 1946, where she was a proud member of the Girl Officers Regiment and the National Honor Society. As a young woman, Theresa worked for the City of Lowell. She was then employed for many years by the Veterans Administration Hospital in Bedford, and, after her retirement, she worked for Dr. Gregory McNamara. Theresa cultivated many cherished friendships in her life, whether lifelong friends and neighbors, or colleagues she met through her work. Theresa was a woman of conviction and deep faith. She was most joyful when in the company of her adoring family. She loved to travel, and deeply loved her country, her beloved Sacred Heart parish, and later her adopted Immaculate Conception parish family. She was a proud Sacred Heart band booster, travelling many times with the band to the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in New York City. Another lifelong passion included her love of the Boston Red Sox. She rarely missed a televised game and family members were always amused by her post game commentary. Theresa is survived by children John Gavin and his wife Maura of York Maine, Catherine Sousa and her husband John of Salem, Michael Gavin and his wife Debra of Pepperell, Mary Kearney and her husband David of Ireland, James Gavin and his wife Cathleen of Kennebunk Maine, Nancy Laughlin and her husband Tom of Danvers, and Ann Marie Gavin of Lowell, with whom she lived and was lovingly cared for over the last several years of her life. Theresa is survived by sixteen (16) grandchildren including David Kearney, Bryant Kearney and his wife Starr, Sarah Butts and her husband Derek, Lauren Bushey and her husband Tom, Erin Tosi and her husband Lawrence, Andrew Gavin, Kerry Marshall and her husband Bryan, John P. Gavin and his wife Angela, Rory Gavin, Meagan Gavin, Jenna Gavin, Michael Sousa, Gavin Laughlin, Robert Sousa, Christopher Laughlin and Maggie Laughlin. Theresa is also survived by fifteen (15) great grandchildren including Bryant, Ethan, Truman and Reece Kearney; Ahmada Kearney; Nicolas and Ava Tosi; Max, Henry and Penelope Bushey; Dylan and Aiden Butts; Aubrey Gavin; Lowen Gavin; Joshua Gavin. Theresa was predeceased by and is now in the loving presence of her husband John, daughter Joan, son Patrick, and grandson Kyle Gavin. Donations in lieu of flowers are suggested to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Merrimack Valley Hospice, or the Wounded Warriors Project.