Teresa Northey Garza

On July 11, 2023 Teresa Garza, currently of Baytown, Texas was called to Heaven after a lengthy but valiant fight against Multiple Myeloma. She was born on October 19, 1950 to Jack and Charleen Northey in Houston, Texas. She was the oldest of five children. Teresa found joy in her childhood spending her days riding her horse and spending time with her siblings and cousins. She attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School and graduated from St. Plus X in 1968. She attended and graduated from Texas Woman's University and then graduate school for her Master's Degree at the University of Iowa. She found her first true love, working with children and adults with down syndrome, disabilities and mental retardation. It was her true calling. She met and married her husband Robert A. Garza and in 1979 they had their only child, a beloved daughter named Andrea Dawn. Being a mother was Teresa's new passion and calling. Then, nieces and nephews came along and she found another passion in being an aunt and Godmother. She truly relished in spoiling them and was very good at it. She was given the name, Teesa from her first nephew and Godson Austin Bates and every niece and nephew from then on called her Teesa. Through the years dozens of family members and friends, even coworkers would be drawn into volunteering for Texas Special Olympics because of the joy they saw it bring to Teresa. She worked for MHMRA, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and spent two decades working at and retiring from Lone Star College, North Harris. In 2017 she found her final and ultimate true love, being a grandmother to her granddaughter Avalynn Susanne Conner. Avalynn was her world and Teresa bought a house and relocated to Baytown to be less than 3 miles from her granddaughter. In 2021 she was diagnosed with the vile disease that she fought with everything she had. Waiting to welcome her into Heaven were her father Jack, mother Charleen, sister Susan Bates, husband Robert, cousin Steven Horn, father-in-law Ted Garza, Brother-In-Law Graham Stevens and infant nephew Adam Stevens. She is survived by her daughter Andrea (Daniel) Conner, beloved granddaughter Avalynn Susanne, sister Marybeth Lawrence, brothers Jack (Jean) Northey and Charles Northey, brother-in-law Mike Bates, mother-in- law Theresa Garza, brother-in-law David Garza, sister-in-law Diana Stevens, nephew Austin (Sara Mae) Bates, niece Rachel (Adam) Bolton, niece Sarah (Eric) Kelly, niece and Goddaughter Erica (Matt Weber) Stevens, nephew Travis (Brittany) Northey, nieces Natalie (Michael) Faria and Lorna (Andrew) Henry, Victoria Manuel, nephew and Godson David Garza and niece Callie Northey. She also leaves behind two great nephews, three great nieces, cousins and numerous loved ones. A visitation and Rosary will be held at Heights Funeral Home from 5p.m.-8p.m. on Friday July 14, 2023 and a Funeral Mass at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Chuch at 10a.m. on Saturday July 15, 2023. Donations in Teresa's name can be made to the Houston Mavericks Swim Team.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.heightsfuneralhome.com for the Garza family.