Theresa Ann Henderson

She passed away peacefully on June 22nd 2020 at her summer home on Whidbey Island, Washington with family by her side. She was 77 years old.

Theresa was the 2nd child born to Edward & Lillian Byrne. Her older brother (Patrick) was born a year earlier in 1941 and her younger brother (Michael) was born in 1944.

Theresa grew up in Seattle’s Rainier Valley, attending Saint Edward’s Elementary School in Hillman City. The friends that she made at St. Edward’s remain her friends to this day.

It was only natural for Theresa to attend Immaculate High School as her mother and aunts also attended Immaculate when they moved from Montana to Seattle. From 1958 through 1961, a new group of “friends for life” joined her cadre of Saint Edward friends.

After graduation from Immaculate, Theresa attended and graduated from Secretarial School in downtown Seattle.

She soon realized that being a secretary wasn’t her cup of tea, so the grocery store, Food Giant – across the street from Theresa’s former Rainier Avenue residence, employed her in their cafeteria.

She enjoyed making sandwiches, hamburgers and most importantly, conversing with customers.

Her father, Edward Byrne was one of 8 children and her mother, Lillian was the oldest of 4 girls and their total of 37 cousins gave Lilly an ever-ready excuse for the family gatherings she so loved.

As it turned out, so did Theresa – with a few phone calls, the family would start arriving and festivities commenced.

Theresa married Gary Henderson on November 21st, 1964 and soon they started their family of 6 children: Jim, Patricia (known as Dee), Kelly, Cheri, Colleen and Debbie.

Theresa ran a day care for 14 years, as she raised her own children. And when she decided she wanted to be with adults again, she worked at Hoagy’s Corner Deli in Kent for 8 years, until her retirement.

Close family friend, Melissa Losey was the Manager there and 4 of Theresa’s kids and a few of her cousins all worked at Hoagy’s at one point, as well.

Family was everything to Theresa. There was always room at her table for drop-ins, friends, family and or friends-of-family.

She will be remembered as a loving, caring and generous woman who was a fighter and treasured friend to many.

Theresa is preceded in death by her parents Ed & Lillian Byrne, her husband of over 50 years Gary Henderson and her grandson Joel Wheat.

Those who remain to cherish Theresa’s memory include:

Her 6 children: Jim (Diann) Henderson, Dee (Jim) Wheat, Kelly (Jerry) Asbjornsen, Cheri (Derek) Hovander, Colleen (Grant) VanDyke and Debbie (Mike) Vescovi. Her brothers – Patrick (Diane) Byrne, Michael (Carol) Byrne and her brother-in-law, Dennis (Francine) Henderson. 17 Grandchildren, 12 Great Grandchildren and large constellation of extended family and friends.

Funeral services are being held at Greenwood Memorial Park in Renton, Washington on 30 July 2020. Her final resting place will be beside her parents and husband, Gary.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice, in Theresa’s honor.

We will all miss Theresa. And we will treasure her deeply in our hearts, forever.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at the Greenwood Memorial Park & Funeral Home website for the Henderson family.