There are ways to measure a person, to understand who they were, what they stood for, who they cared about and what they had accomplished in life.
If a measure of that same person can be counted, weighed or totaled by the number of those they impacted, or by the tears of mourning saturating the faces of the lives she touched, Theresa Jean Guerrieri is immeasurable.
Theresa Guerrieri (nee Moats), age 47 of Willoughby, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family Thursday morning, September 26th, 2024, after a dignified, valiant and length-defying battle with cancer. Her passing leaves a hole in the hearts of so many of the lives she touched as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, second mom and dear friend.
To have known Theresa is to have known love and passion. Always leading with her heart for her family and friends, she gave of herself for others regardless of own circumstance. A wonderful daughter, mother, sister, Theresa is gone too soon, but would want those she loved to celebrate her life and appreciate the impact she made just as equal the mourning her passing deserves.
She loved putting her toes in sand on beach vacations as much as she could. Her heart, much like her wit and opinions could get salty like the water she sought for respite but at the root of who she was, lied an undercurrent of loyalty, compassion and grit.
Too many nights marked over the years when scores of her sons’ friends found shelter at her home, food for their hunger in her pantry, or a warm shoulder to lean on with an ear to listen when a nurturing voice was needed.
She relished the holidays and it didn’t matter which one it was on the calendar, as long as it meant that she would be surrounded by loved ones.
In her youth, she played basketball, ran track, marched in the band and guarded the nets in volleyball. After high school she attended Tiffin University and later enrolled in the police academy and enjoyed a career in law enforcement that ultimately led her to fall in love and marry her husband Mark. Together they proudly raised their sons Giovanni and Lorenzo.
She would eventually work in the Willoughby school system where she harnessed her ability to connect with the youth by counseling students as a teacher’s aid. And it is there where her absence will be most felt. Seldom a school event would pass without a crowd of students flocking to her side.
An absolute constant at her sons’ sporting and school events, despite officials doing their best to remove her, it was Theresa’s voice of support and criticism we heard and it was prominent, yes, loud too, and definitive. If you wore the same colors, she was your champion. She was a tall tree of sass, opinions and encouraging emotion for the so many she supported.
She fought with purpose and her life will leave an indelible mark on all it touched. She gave everything she had to everyone she knew. Her home was yours, her heart was open to all and she lived, as she wants her loved ones to in her death…with passion.
Rest easy Mama T, Big T, Moatsie, Tree and Miss G…somewhere there is a group of umpires and referees doing just that tonight.
Theresa is survived by her husband of 19 years, Mark Guerrieri, her children Giovanni and Lorenzo Guerrieri and her parents Butch J. and Linda Moats of Perry, OH as well as her brother Jason (Danielle) Moats, Kevin (Cinthia) Moats, and Nicole Moats. Additionally, she is also survived by her father-in-law Antonio (Eleonora-deceased) Guerrieri; her sisters-in-law Lora (Jack) Hay, Antonella (Ron) Kost as well as many nieces and nephews as well as a great niece.
The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 from 3:00 – 7:00 PM at Jeff Monreal Funeral Home, 1000 Mentor Avenue, Painesville 44077. Theresa’s family asks that you come to the visitation hours wearing the teams and colors she so loved in the Willoughby Wildcats, South Rebels, Willoughby Middle School Warriors and the 6-time Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. A Funeral mass will be held at St. John Vianney Church, 7575 Bellflower Rd., Mentor, OH 44060 at 11:00 AM Wednesday, October 2nd before her final burial at All Souls Cemetery following the ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that a donation be made in Theresa’s name to Crossroads Health, 8445 Munson Rd., Mentor OH 44060 https://crossroadshealth.org
