Therese Marie Pardini

Good morning. I would like to thank you all for traveling to be here today from
near and far. My name is Nicole Kaiser and I am one of Therese’s many cousins.
We are gathered here today to honor and celebrate the extraordinary life of
Therese Marie Pardini-Poe—a woman whose spirit was as vibrant as the sun and
whose love knew no bounds.
Therese was warmly welcomed into this world on April 8th, 1972 at Kaiser Hospital
in Redwood City to Margaret and William Pardini. She was the eldest grandchild
and niece to the Schoenstein Clan as well as the Pardini Clan. She grew up calling
both Redwood City and Fresno home. Therese attended Mt. Carmel School in
Redwood City and completed high school at Notre Dame in Belmont, where she
made lifelong friends. She would eventually go on to study Veterinary Science at
Foothill College, and became a Veterinary Technician in her early twenties. A
decade later, Therese successfully completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
with honors in 2002 from California State University at Fresno and went on to
become an administrative executive specializing in payroll and taxes.
As a youngster, and even into her adult years, Therese was known to play and
work hard-and as a result, had many trips to the Emergency Department for
everything from broken wrists (at the same time), to knocked out front teeth,
broken ankles, a recently broken hip, not to mention countless sprains, and even
a scratched eyeball. She was a self-proclaimed “klutz” and we all laughed about it
with her.
In writing this eulogy, I have reached out to many of those closest to Therese over
the years. Some of the stories I’ve been told were new to me, so I thought I’d
share one with you. This particular story comes from one of Therese’s dearest
friends, Melanie. In the late 80s/early 90s, while Meg and Jerry (Therese’s step-
dad) were living in Redwood City, Therese had occasionally trespassed onto
Woodside High School’s grounds to let herself and friends into the swimming pool
on campus on hot summer days. I can attest this was not an uncommon practice
in the summertime, as I am also guilty of doing this several times with her as well.
Apparently, one time, a concerned neighbor had called the police about some
“hooligans” swimming in the pool and upon police arrival, they found Therese and
Melanie skinny dipping. Not wanting to get into trouble, the two darted out of the
pool, grabbed their clothes, and ran all the way to the house in their birthday
suits. She giggled on many occasions about that night.
If Therese was to tell you what her greatest accomplishment in life was, it would
be becoming a mother to her dear Benjamin Patrick on April 3rd of 1996. She was a
devoted mother to Ben and in his short time, Therese loved and protected him
with every fiber of her being. Despite the loss of Ben to Leukemia in January of
1999, Therese managed to stay strong for all of us mourning the loss of her baby
boy. For many of us now mourning the loss of Therese, we find solace in knowing
that she is finally with her Benjamin again- reunited at last.
In May 2010, Therese was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. It came as a
shock to her and all that loved her, but we knew that with Therese’s fighting spirit
and will to live she would emerge victorious over the cancer. Therese showed us
all the true meaning of resilience and at the point when her hair started falling
out, Therese and her tribe in Fresno gathered together for a head shaving party.
Therese proudly sported her platinum blonde buzzed head and made bald look
beautiful. Despite her struggles, Therese always wore the most beautiful smile,
brightening even the darkest of days. Her laughter was infectious, and her spirit
was unbreakable. Her love and guidance shaped the lives of those around her,
and her legacy will continue to inspire us all as we all carry her memory in our
hearts. Therese was one of the strongest women many of us have ever known.
She faced life’s challenges with unwavering tenacity and as a force to be reckoned
with.
Therese was an adored Auntie Tia to her cherished nieces and nephews—Connor
and Dani, Rachel and Joey, Zachary and Alexis, Olivia and Annabelle, and Sarah
and baby boy Jones and a beloved “Fairy Godmother” to Brendan, Maura, and
Michael. She was a big sister and protector to her brother, Will, and beloved sister
to Jamie, Jason, Jennifer, Stephanie, and Kimberly. Therese was a surrogate sister
to many, including myself, and the relationships she cultivated and nurtured will
live on for years to come.
In September of 2012, Therese met the love of her life, Mike Poe. The two began
dating while Mike was stationed in Lemoore, California. Therese was a quick study
of all things Navy, and I was more than happy to be her tutor, being a Navy
Veteran myself. I vividly recall phone calls from Therese asking for advice as to
what to wear to her first Navy Ball and proper etiquette of military gatherings.
Mike quickly swept Therese off her feet. In January of 2015, Mike was transferred
to Newport, Rhode Island and Therese dutifully followed him on their first cross-
country move. The move wasn’t without a few hiccups. Along the way, in a
particularly nasty storm, Mike’s truck ended up being totaled and simultaneously,
Therese’s car battery had died while she left the car running for the half-brother
pups, Pictou and Chip. While in Rhode Island, Therese and Mike tied the knot in a
private ceremony overlooking the harbor on August 19th, 2015. Therese loved
being a military spouse and quickly became a role model to the newer spouses.
Their time in Rhode Island was short, and in April of 2016, Therese and Mike
transferred to Panama City, Florida. She learned quite quickly that she didn’t
enjoy the Florida humidity nor the tropical storms that frequently passed through
destroying her gardens. Believe it or not, Therese and Mike moved yet again in
November of 2017 to Meridian, Mississippi where Mike would eventually become
a squadron Commanding Officer, making Therese a “COW”- a Commanding
Officer’s Wife. As a devoted COW, Therese stood proudly by Mike’s side during his
Naval career, embodying strength and grace. Taking this job very seriously,
Therese coordinated massive events, mentored countless budding military
spouses, and also tended to throw lavish parties for the spouses’ club. Upon
Mike’s retirement, Therese and Mike made one last cross-country move back to
Fresno- where Therese finally reunited with her beloved neighbors and tended to
her lush gardens. They remained there for a little over a year, and finally settled in
their “forever home” in Arroyo Grande. Often times, they would spend nights
watching the sun set over the Pacific. It was truly their personal slice of Heaven on
Earth.
Therese was not just a beautiful soul, but she was a pillar of support for her family
and community. Her generosity knew no bounds, as she dedicated her time,
heart, and resources to local organizations, always striving to make her
community a better place. Therese was a true force of nature. While stationed in
Mississippi with Mike, she became a long-haul pet transporter, saving countless
furry friends along the way. Her compassion for animals was unmatched, and her
home was a sanctuary for her beloved pets Sneakers, Geller, Leo, Billy, Adolf,
Halyard, Pictou, and Indy, to name a few. Therese had a heart that embraced all
living things, and her love for her pets was a testament to her nurturing spirit.
Therese’s remarkable talent for gardening created a beautiful garden that
reflected her nurturing soul everywhere she called home. Her gardens flourished
just as she did wherever she planted her roots. Therese’s close friends and
neighbors mentioned that Therese was in the garden so much that they often saw
her soaking wet and covered in mud when she would visit them in the evenings.
Merely weeks ago, with her brother Will’s help, Therese had just finished her
front garden; It is truly a beautiful sight and exemplifies her love of gardening.
Therese, the first grandchild on the Schoenstein side and the one who lovingly
christened the name “Popo” for our grandfather. She was the fearless leader of
her clan of nearly two dozen cousins, always rallying to bring us together with her
warmth and love. Which brings us to another quick story- While the Schoenstein
Cabin was being built in Arnold during the mid 1970s, Meg and Bill, with Therese
in tow, would venture up on the weekends to help with construction. One
weekend, Therese had been playing in the red dirt and was in desperate need of a
bath. Our grandfather, Popo, had offered to give her a good wash-down and
proceeded to fill a 5-gallon bucket with soap and water and one very special
blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl. At one point during Therese’s impromptu
bath, Popo reached into to grab the rag and gave her a good scrub down. After a
few moments of washing, Popo had realized that the rag was wiggling- he was
scrubbing Therese down with a lizard that had found its way into the bath-time
bucket. Many laughs were had by the adults, and Therese’s “bath time at the
cabin” story is one that has been told countless times over the past fifty years.
Our dearest Therese, you are now at peace, free from all pain, and reunited with
your beloved Benjamin and your devoted father. We will forever carry your
fighting spirit in our hearts. Thank you for the laughter, the love, and the
countless fond memories. You will be deeply missed but never forgotten as you
will live on in our hearts forever.
Rest in paradise, Therese. We love you.