Teresa Alba Alonso

Beloved by all, Teresa Alba Alonso, “Auntie”, passed away on April 30, 2013, at the age of 91. Teresa was born November 15, 1921, the eldest child of Rosa Espinosa and Bernard Fernandez. She grew up with her younger brother Peter, in Barcelona, Spain. She enjoyed her close knit family and spent her youth in Barcelona enjoying her education with the Carmelite Sisters, receiving numerous music awards for piano at the Academia Centro Artistico Musical. Teresa also delighted in playing soccer when she was not focusing on her studies.

Teresa arrived in New York City in 1938 without any knowledge of English. Teresa graduated from The New York University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Literature. In 1965 Teresa Alonso moved to Columbus, Ohio to be close to her only brother Peter, wife Anna, and their children Bernadette, Alicia, Pier, and Peter who resided in Lancaster, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University and attained a teaching certificate and taught Spanish. Expanding her career, Teresa assisted the Chairman of the Department of Geography until her retirement. She was an avid Buckeye fan and invited her family to attend The Ohio State Football games.

One of Teresa’s early and lifelong interests was the love of her family. She relocated to Dallas, Texas to help her niece Pier Burgess with her growing family. She instilled in them her love of learning and music and taught them basic piano lessons. She delighted in preparing her grandniece and grandnephews’ wonderful birthday dinners. She embraced them as her own. She also enjoyed ranch life.

She enjoyed her late niece, Bernadette Todd’s children, Kristin, Katie, and Kyle and loved attending baseball games in which they were competing in baseball.

Teresa enjoyed holidays and vacations in Longboat Key, Florida and in Tampa, Florida with her nephew Peter and his wife Michelle and their children, Peter and Alex. Auntie enjoyed watching different sporting events in which her great nephews were participating. “Auntie” was very proud of family.

In later years, Teresa spent time with Alicia visiting the Columbus Museum of Art, attending Sunday Mass at Mother Angeline McCrory Manor, and enjoying the company of her new friends on “Tuesday Sweet Night”. Always remembering birthdays, Teresa loved to send cards, gifts, and letters to her family and friends.

An avid reader of the New York Times, Teresa enjoyed sharing it with her family. She often was the expert, having fun officiating at a competitive game of scrabble. Volunteering at her parish functions, Saint Bernadette’s in Lancaster, she was known to be warm and engaging. She surely will be missed.

Above all, throughout her life, Teresa dedicated her time and attention to her family and friends; her motto being “Your family always comes first”.

Teresa is survived by her close brother, Peter Conrad Alonso and spouse, Anna O. Alonso; nephew, Peter M. Alonso and spouse, Michelle Alonso and their children Peter and Alex; niece Alicia R Alonso; niece Pier M Burgess and spouse Glenn W Burgess and their children Russell, Nichole and Peter; grandnieces Kristin Todd and Katie Todd; grandnephew Kyle Todd and Bernadette’s husband, Dennis Todd.

A service of remembrance will be celebrated at Saint Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Lancaster, Ohio with Father Kessler officiating on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Internment will take place at Floral Hills Cemetery after Mass.

Messages of condolence can be sent to the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home in Lancaster, Ohio. Donations may be made in Teresa’s name to Saint Bernadette’s Church or The Pickering House in Lancaster, Ohio.

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday May 4, 2013 , 10:00 AM at St. Bernadette Catholic Church