Theresa (Terry) Turner died peacefully on Sunday, September 25 at The Landing at Laurel Lake in Lee with her children by her side just five days before her 92nd birthday.
She was born September 30, 1930 during the Great Depression to Antionette and Ernest Faucher, the first of four daughters. Terry grew up on Lincoln Street in Pittsfield and attended and graduated from Notre Dame and Saint Joseph’s schools. In 1950, she met Robert (Pinky) Turner while attending a dance at the Mill on the Floss Restaurant. He quickly became the love of her life and they were married on June 9, 1951. Terry and Pinky moved to the Orr farm, now Turner Farm, in South Egremont where they made a loving home for their four children for 63 years. Terry was the definition of a loving wife and mother who created a home filled with happiness, laughter, friends and family. All were welcomed to eat, drink, laugh, and dance in her kitchen.
She had many interests including cooking, sewing, and gardening to name a few. On almost any summer day you could find her in her garden with her plants towering over her. Terry loved music. In her retirement years she bought herself a piano and learned to play, a lifelong dream of hers.
Terry was the first woman to hold the position of Town Clerk in Egremont and served from 1963 to 1977. She and Pinky owned and operated the Gaslight Store in South Egremont in the late 60s. Terry managed an Elder Meals program in Great Barrington in the 70s and worked in the offices of Dr’s Edward Wyman and Jay Katz for many years.
One of Terry’s greatest joys was to spend time with her beloved sisters. Terry, Connie, Pauline, and Irene shared families, travel, theater, music, laughter, tears, and wine. Their bond was precious and never broken. Another very special person in Terry’s life was her best friend Jean Curtiss whom she loved like a sister.
Terry was predeceased by husband Robert Turner on December 29, 2014 and her sister Connie McGinn. She is survived by her children: Michele Turner, Susan Jurgenson and her husband Tod, Robert Turner and his wife Marilucia, and Sally Turner and her husband Michael Dolinish. She leaves grandchildren: Matthew Turner, Lindsay Furey and her husband Billy, and Andy Jurgenson. She also leaves her sisters: Pauline Nault and her husband Richard and Irene Aquino and her husband Ron Nickerson.
A funeral Mass will take place at Our Lady of the Valley Church on Maple Ave., Sheffield at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 1. There will be a celebration of Terry’s life immediately following the mass at Our Lady of the Valley Parish Center.
Donations in memory of Terry may be made to the Egremont Fire Department or HospiceCare in the Berkshires through Birches-Roy Funeral Home, 33 South St., Gt. Barrington, MA 01230. Condolences may be made through the website of Birches-Roy Funeral Home.
