Tessa Zanke

Tessa Marie Zanke, 44, passed away October 16, 2022 at OSU Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio surrounded by her family and friends. Tessa was born June 18, 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Tessa is the daughter of Nick and Dorene Zanke and the late Karen Pearson.

Tessa graduated with Bachelor's Degrees in elementary and special education from Fairmont State College in Fairmont, WV. After graduation, Tessa was a special education teacher at Breckinridge Elementary.

Following the arrival of her daughter, she dedicated her life to being a mother and continued to share her love of teaching and learning. Tessa was truly an angel on Earth devoted to giving and helping others daily.

Tessa is survived by her daughter, EmmaGrace Koch of Columbus. Tessa’s pride was EmmaGrace, who she was raising to be a kind, thoughtful, and strong young lady.

In addition to her daughter and parents, Tessa is survived by her fiancé, Shaun Bruey and his son, Austin, twin sister, Bria (Steven) Curry, sisters, Krenna (David) Allender, Amy Busic, Cari (David) Ice and Missy (Darin) McCoy, and special daughter, Kristen Dotson. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews who she loved and adored: Madison, Jackson, Maggie, her angel bug, Payton, Ella, Preston, Taya, and Brynlee. In addition, Tessa is survived by her many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends, who she considered family. Also, Tessa had a special place in her heart for her beloved dog, Dusty.

In addition to her mother, Tessa was preceded in death by her sister, Keve Laine Zanke, her maternal grandparents, Charles and Elaine Pearson, paternal grandparents, Albert and Catherine Zanke, and special aunt, Faye Findling.

Family and friends will be received Thursday, October 20th, starting at 12:30pm with services beginning at 1:00pm at the Adventure Church of Lewis Center, 5542 Columbus Pike. Another memorial service will be held in Bellaire, Ohio at a later date convenient for the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either “I Choose Hope”, which was an important charity to Tessa that she supported and fundraised for or St. Jude’s Children's Hospital.