Theresa Ann Morgan

Theresa Ann Morgan passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. She fought a valiant 4 year battle with breast cancer, always striving to display a positive attitude. She passed away in her home under the care of Promedica Hospice of Monroe. Theresa was born in Monroe MI on September 30, 1950, the first of three children born from the marriage of John and Jennie (Costello) Cangealose. She graduated from Monroe High School in 1968 where she was the editor of the yearbook her senior year. While still in high school she took a part time job as a secretary in the law firm of Weipert, Costello and Lavoy where she continued to work after graduation. She worked there until Mrs. Patricia Costello, from that firm, was elected a District Court Judge in 1974. Theresa then went to work at the Monroe County Court House as Judge Costello's Legal Secretary until the judge's retirement. Theresa then worked for Judge Terence Bronson as his Court Recorder. She worked at the court house for 34 years until her retirement. She enjoyed getting to know officers from the various police agencies, often getting to know their families too from the officers' accounts of vacations, little league games, etc. She also watched many of the local attorneys grow up through high school and college after which they then began their law practices; a couple of them even becoming judges. Theresa and her future husband met on their last day of high school. They dated for a few months until he enlisted in the US Air Force. While he was gone those four years, she faithfully waited and wrote him letters, literally every day. During his four year enlistment, they were only able to see each other for a few weeks at a time. Their love grew simply by exchanging hundreds of letters and an occasional phone call when he was "state side", him standing in a phone booth feeding quarters to a pay phone. They became engaged while he was home on leave before being sent to Viet Nam the second time. They became married just a few months after he received his discharge from the Air Force. She married Dale Morgan in April 1973. They enjoyed 44 years of marriage until her passing. From their marriage came the birth of two sons Corey Morgan of LaSalle and Ryan Morgan of Winchester Virginia. Their family summer vacations were usually camping trips Up North. In fact, they camped in a tent and slept on the ground while Theresa was pregnant for both boys. She was active in the Monroe Trojan Football Mother's Club while her sons played football at Monroe High School. While she never learned the game of football, (she referred to players as ball hikers, ball throwers, etc.) she was always indignant if her son was knocked down by a member of the opposing team. Theresa cherished her family. The day she was diagnosed with cancer 4 years ago she told the oncologist "But I have grandchildren that I haven't even met yet" even though neither of her children had started families at that time. She was extremely thankful to have lived long enough to see 3 grandchildren born in those four years - Aria, Tanner and Alina. Theresa absolutely loved to cook. Her favorite dish was any dish that had spaghetti sauce on it. Her best sauce was one that was made from scratch and simmered on the stove for hours. She followed no written recipe. It was just made from memory and repeated tasting until the balance was just right. She loved to read cook books and she read them as others might read a novel. The greatest compliment that you could give her was to just take "seconds" or "thirds" from a dish that she had prepared. Until her health started failing, she loved to host large family holiday dinners. After their marriage, Theresa became a member of Calvary United Methodist Church. She was instrumental in organizing the women of the church to provide two weeks or more of dinners to other members of the church who were temporarily incapacitated due to sickness, surgery, etc. Theresa and Dale enjoyed many years, and the friends they made, at their lake front cabin Up North. A special Thank You to Dr. John Kalenkiewicz of Monroe and all of the wonderful people at the University of Michigan Oncology Dept., particularly Dr. Monica Burness, Lita Smith (NP) and Dawn Roof (RN). Survivors include her father and step-mother John and Ruby (Archer) Cangealose; sons Corey (Karolyn) Morgan, Ryan (Jessica) Morgan; grandchildren Aria, Tanner and Alina; siblings John (Elaine) Cangealose and Andrea (Brian) Lewandowski. She always felt that God truly blessed them with a loving family. She was preceded in death by her mother Jennie Cangealose. The family invites friends and family to join them in celebrating Theresa's life at the Bacarella Funeral Home, where visitation will be held on Thursday, July 6 from 1-8 PM. Funeral services to commemorate her life will take place at 10 AM, Friday, July 7, at the funeral home. Procession will follow to Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle for committal services. Rev. Stephen K. Perrine, pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church will officiate. Memorials may be made to The U of M Cancer Center in Ann Arbor or The Lord's Harvest Food Pantry at the MCOP in Monroe.

Theresa Ann Morgan

September 30, 1950 - July 4, 2017