Glenda Lee Terrio

Glenda Lee Terrio, 69, of Austin Texas, passed on April 10, 2024. She was born in Austin Texas, September 14, 1954 to Betty Joe Cooper-Collins Terrio and Richard Eugene Terrio. Her birth was much anticipated by her parents as they tried for years to have a baby. Glenda was a miracle the beautiful baby girl given to them.

Growing up her father was a Brick Mason. The family traveled all over the U.S. for work. She saw amazing natural wonders before the world was so crowded and rushed. She swam in the snow melt rivers in the Tetons. She marveled as Old Faithful went off. She found a stray cat and convinced her parents to keep it. Her first fur baby. Traveling pets were forbidden. They were great together for many years. As a child Glenda was the bell ringer in the church Christmas Pageant. She received a stand ovation. She loved Girl Scouts and their camping trips. She made great friends and filled up her autograph book and she won the badge for most artistic at Texlake. She graduated High School in Austin and loved the Austin Music scene, where she was able to see the “Beatles” in Person!!

Glenda loved camping, swimming, flowers, gourmet cooking, she made her own marshmallows and Figgy Pudding, her son and family, road trips, gardening, friends, humor, knitting, embroidery, sewing, jewelry making, quilting, the Catholic Church, science fiction, dinosaurs and dragons, anything shiny. She could grow anything, cook anything. She even made homemade paper from dryer lint. One time she made homemade root beer and stored it in the hot water closet. Sitting in the living room she kept hearing little pops and explosions. It was the root beer blowing the bottle tops off.

She had two great road trips. First to Disney Land with her son. Where they stayed in a beautiful Disney Resort. The second trip was with Clay and Stephen. They did a road trip from Austin to Wyoming, and then Canada. They enjoyed dabbling in several paleontology digs.

Glenda’s childhood friend, Sharla Ann shared this memory: "When Glenda’s son, Stephen, was born he had serious health challenges. Glenda was given the option to let him die, and she refused. She was given the option to warehouse him, and she refused. She was told he would never speak or progress beyond the level of a 2 year old. But she fought to get him help and proved the doctors wrong. This camera-shy introverted teenager was transformed into a warrior by her love for her son. She gave her life over to his care and education."

Her friend, Cindy shared this memory: "She loved life, seeing new things, and road trips. She was a soul sister. Cindy remembers as teenagers they traveled from Austin to Mexico." They never would say exactly what they did down there. But they would get big smiles telling the story. Another friend shared: "Glenda was shy. She was very artistic. In Junior High the walls in her room at home were covered with her artwork. The love and passion for all things creative followed her all her life.

Glenda is survived by longtime companion Clay Phennacie, sister and brother in law- Cathy and Jerry Eschberger, niece Julie Eschberger, friends and her St. Louis church family.

The family wishes to express our deepest thanks to Kindful Hospice of Georgetown Texas. Glenda's team fought to make sure she had what she needed and more. They entertained, listened, intervened, kept her clean and well groomed, medicated, made sure her spiritual needs were met. You made her feel special, cared for, safe, loved and that she still mattered, that she still had something to offer the world. Thank you Aide Sharonda, Chaplain Williams, Nurse Clarissa. And SW Kathleen.

The family also wishes to express our thankfulness to "AGE of Central Texas". They were with us on each step of the journey. The free incontinence supplies and medical equipment helped make the budget stretch. The free support classes for caregivers kept the family feeling supported and sane. The referrals to community resources is amazing. Thank you for making the journey much easier.

Honorary Pallbearers : Jerry Eschberger John Eschberger, Sharla Ann Roe, Cindy Eilertson, Colette Seal, Julie Williams, Janet McCracken, Suzanne Anderson, Rita, Rhonda, Ruth Hemmi, Laurence Rouland.