SOUTH THOMASTON — On January 29, 2020, Theresa Leeann Tyler was called home and entered the arms of Jesus at 6:35 in the morning after a nine month battle with metastatic lung cancer.

Theresa (Terri) Leeann Tyler was born at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut on March 25, 1966, the daughter of James Albert and Victoria Patricia Yacovielle Lucas. She grew up in Bridgeport and was brought into the foster care system at the age of 5.

Terri continued to stay in the system for all her adolescence and was in a total of 18 foster homes over that span of time. She was a very smart young lady and excelled in spelling and math. Although Terri had hardships in her younger life, it was those hardships that molded her into a very strong independent young woman. As a young adult, Terri loved spending time with her friends and was very social.

At the age of 17, Terri became pregnant with her first child, Lauren. On February 12, 1985 at the age of 18, she gave birth to Lauren. Terri was unable to care for her at the time and decided that adoption would be the best choice for Lauren and her future. Even though she had a difficult time with her decision, Terri was confident at the time that Lauren was adopted into a nice family and that she would be raised well.

In 1988, Terri worked at Good Shepard day care in Milford, Connecticut, where she met her soulmate, Andy Tyler. Andy’s daughter Jackie was cared for at Good Shepard, and that is how they met. In Andy’s words “It took me more then twenty times of asking her out before she finally agreed.” From there on, Andy gave and showed Terri about the love that she was never given in her childhood and part of her adult life.

Their union turned into a beautiful relationship, the two becoming inseparable and within the next year and a half, became husband and wife and moved to Maine to build a home, as well as a life together. This molded her into the amazing hardworking homemaker that is still printed onto her children as well as her grandchildren and husband. Cooking, cleaning and caring for seven children is no easy task, but she did it with such poise that seemed to come so naturally, despite never being given the same as a child herself.

Terri always looked forward to summer, her favorite time of year. She loved taking her children to the beach, going camping at campgrounds and taking mini vacations with her husband, Andy, in Bar Harbor, which was her favorite place in Maine to visit (besides the Lindt truffle store in Freeport and Mexicali Blues).

Terri was so loved in the Tyler family as well, and leaves behind a huge family, which includes biological brothers and sisters in Connecticut, and many brother and sister in-laws whom she was closest to and considered to be her real family, including her mother-in-law, Anne Tyler. On many occasions, Terri said she always wished Anne had raised her, and she is the mother she never had growing up.

She also leaves behind her children (in order of age) Jackie and son-in-law John, Lauren, Ryan, Erica, Jessie, Andrew Jr., Curtis and Krissy; as well as ten beautiful grand babies; Johnny, Andrew, Kadence, Annie, Ellie, Everett, Jilly, Easton, Auggie and Sebbie; and of course, her amazing loving husband, Andy.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit Wednesday, February 5, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.

A celebration of Terrie’s life will be held Thursday, February 6, at 11 a.m., at Peoples United Methodist Church, 12 Chapel Street, South Thomaston.

While flowers are welcome, those who wish may make memorial contributions to Children’s Miracle Network, Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, 22 Bramhall St., Portland, ME 04102, or online at fundraising.mmc.org/bbch-donate-now.

Spring interment will be in Village Cemetery, South Thomaston.

To share a memory or story with Terrie’s family, visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.