Terry was an avid reader from a young age. She loved getting lost in a good book to the point that she was often late to dinner. One evening, her mother, fed up with her tardiness, took the book from her hands as she was walking down the stairs to dinner, ripped it and asked “What do you think about that?” Terry responded in her singular fashion, “I think you owe Mrs. Chapman an apology and a new book.”
Theresa Marie Carey, 62, of Apex, North Carolina died at home from cancer on February 25, 2024.
Terry was born in Ithaca, New York in 1961 to Raymond and Melanie Spadafora. She was their oldest child. The family moved to Saratoga Springs, New York in 1971. She attended Saratoga Springs Jr High where her father was the principal. She loved telling the story of her father coming into her French class and loudly announcing, “Eel fay tray boo!” Terry graduated with high honors from Saratoga Springs High School in 1979 where she was the first chair violinist, playing with the Philadelphia Orchestra and performing with David Hyde Pierce who accompanied her on the piano. She traveled to France as a freshman in high school which sparked a lifelong desire to travel. Her first job was working at the Saratoga Race Course. Terry attended Wells College on a merit scholarship and graduated with honors in 1983 with a degree in Chemistry.
She met her future husband, Jim, at her first job out of college, Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute. The love between them was instant, and Jim took her to Alpine Lake Campground for their first date. She must have really loved him to agree to go camping as she hated spiders and grass. They danced the night away at the pavilion and stargazed into the morning. That night Orion became their constellation. Jim and Terry were married on March 29, 1985 in Albany, New York. There were many more camping trips in her future. They welcomed their first child, Stuart, on October 8, 1985 followed by Philip, March 21, 1987, Samantha, September 8, 1988, and Amanda, April 24, 1990. The family moved to North Carolina in 1998.
Terry dedicated her life to raising her children, homeschooling all four from 1989-2004. She was an advocate for homeschooling and a member of L.E.A.H. (Loving Education At Home) at a time when teaching children at home was considered deviant. The demands of family life caused Terry to realize her need for divine guidance and she committed her life to Christ and began learning more about God through reading The Bible. Noticing the positive changes in Terry and recognizing his need for redemption, Jim also received Christ as Savior and the two became one flesh, following and serving Christ joyfully. Their childlike faith began growing and they started leading their family in a manner that was consistent with God's plans for them. Terry had a gift for working with children and served in the children’s ministry at their church. She could pin-point the “troubled” kids and would bring them under her wing. Her love was infinite and unconditional.
She made every birthday a special event and showed her creativity baking homemade extravagant cakes. She made the best pizza and shared her love for cooking with her children. She loved playing games especially Euchre, trivia games, and Fortune Street. She loved football and loved cheering on her team, the Seahawks, and throwing epic super bowl parties. She loved languages and studied Russian, French, and even taught herself Spanish so that she could teach it to her boys. Terry will be remembered for her selfless, nurturing spirit and the way that she championed children, met them where they were, and made them feel valued. Terry loved dragonflies and the next time you see one, it might just be her stopping by to say hello.
Terry is survived by her devoted husband, Jim Carey, her children: Stuart (partner Meg), Philip (wife Sam), Samantha (partner Chris), and Amanda; her honorary daughter, Liz Skeen (partner Kitty), her grandchildren: Miguel, Eliza, Analuisa, and Ramsey; loving parents: Ray and Melanie; her siblings: Kim, Tom, Stephen, David, and Lisa; and her many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, and all those who knew and loved her.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 am on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Apex Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 10-11 before the service time. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.
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