FURICK, Theresa Furick

Passed away peacefully at Hogarth Riverview Manor (HRM) on June 18, 2026. Theresa battled cancer for a few years, among other ailments, but quietly endured without complaint.

Theresa Furick was born on August 4, 1933 in the city of Fort William to Christina & Stefan Furik, the youngest of seven children, and grew up on MacLeod Street. She attended St. Peter’s School, followed by Selkirk High School.

Theresa worked for the majority of her career at Great Lakes, first as a keypunch operator in 1963, then as a clerk in the traffic department in 1971, followed by a billing supervisor and assistant order supervisor until 1984, and finally as order supervisor, a role she held until her retirement in 1989.

Church and faith were a big part of Theresa’s life; she attended St. Peter’s Church for most of her life, moving to St. Dominic’s Church when she moved out of her East End home in the early ‘90s. She prayed every night for each member of her family and made a donation to the St. Anthony of Padua Foundation in honor of each child in the family, who subsequently received a medal of St. Anthony. Theresa was also a life-time member of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL).

The Golden Girls, Theresa and her best friends Shirley Franchi and Nella De Re, did everything together, such as traveling to various destinations around the world, including Italy, Spain, and Mexico to name a few. They enjoyed spending time at family camps, singing, listening to the accordion and harmonica, and dancing.

Theresa loved sports and could always be found with the Sports Network channel on at HRM. She was an avid Blue Jays fan throughout her life, never missing a game. In fact, she was watching the game and game highlights with her great-nieces the two days before her passing.

Anyone who knew Theresa knew she could regularly be found at the Slovak Legion making cabbage rolls, meatballs, “signing in” each day for the draw, or socializing. She became a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary in 1968, serving as a member for over 57 years, and became a member of the Slovak Branch # 129 in 1994. Theresa joined the Ladies Auxiliary executive in 1989, taking the position of Sergeant of Arms in 1990, Vice President in 1992, President from 1993-2003, and then the role of Vice President in 2004. Theresa attended annual Remembrance Day ceremonies since 1970, participating in the Color Party procession as Sergeant of Arms. Theresa was honored with a “Life Membership” from the Legion in 2010 for her years of dedicated service.

Theresa spent many hours volunteering in various places, including preparing meals at Shelter House (1989-2006), Christmas Cheer (1998-2008), the ALS Society (1998-2008), the Kidney Foundation (1996-2004), the Canadian Cancer Society (1998-2005), Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (1999-well over a decade), the Canadian Diabetes Foundation (2000-2005), and delivering poppy boxes for Remembrance Day and sick-and-visiting committee through the Ladies Auxiliary, to name just a few.

Family and friends were extremely important to Theresa, as evidenced by the care she gave to her parents until their passing, as well as to her many friends and family members who passed before her, always visiting, bringing food, and accompanying them to medical appointments. And she was never without a “biscuit” in her pocket for her furry friends! One of the family’s favorite memories of Auntie Theresa was stopping by her house at the end of trick-or-treating on Halloween for cabbage rolls with the cousins. Theresa could always be relied on to have a camera in hand, ready to take pictures of any event or family gathering…a wonderful compilation of memories she left behind for her family to enjoy.

Theresa was predeceased by her parents Christina and Stefan, siblings Johanna Furik, Mary Foreman (Gabe), Helen Kruzel (Tommy), Amelia “Milly” Kondreska (Stephen), Stephen Furik (Vilma), Elizabeth “Betty” Burek (John), and nieces and nephews Richard Foreman, Raymond Foreman, Eleanor and Ted Syrek, Thomas and Sheila Kruzel, Kenny Kruzel, Tony Watson, Lorne Kondreska, Denis Kondreska, MaryAnn Swerdlyk, Judy Furik Capancini, David Burek, and Alan Burek, as well as great-nephews Ryan Kruzel and Kyle Furik, and her four-legged companion, Laddie.

Theresa is survived by nieces and nephews Marilyn Foreman, Marie Rea (Gord), June Watson, Shirley Kruzel, Susan Kondreska, Roger Swerdlyk, Ronnie Furik (Chris McAdam), Jill Burek, Bryan Burek (Lorie), Lori Burek (Frank Iamonaco), and Kevin Burek (Sandra Latorre), as well as numerous great, great-great, and great-great-great nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church at 615 Connolly Street on June 29, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at St. Patrick’s Cemetery and a celebratory lunch at The Royal Canadian Legion, Slovak Branch #129.

The family of Theresa would like to thank Dr. Karlene Gleeson, Dr. Joseph DelPaggio, Dr. Margaret Anthes, and the amazing team at HRM’s Birch Unit for the wonderful and compassionate care they provided over the past few years.