Theresa Perry

Theresa was born Theresa Mary Malecha on November 1, 1939 to Thomas and Mary Malecha in Eureka township in Minnesota. Her early childhood years were spent on the family farm in rural Northfield. She attended the Rosary School and Northfield Public Schools. At some point her family moved to Northfield and in 1954 she married Clarence “Rusty” Hanson. Theresa and Rusty, who had 3 children, were divorced in 1965. Theresa met and married Albert Perry in 1972.

Over the years Theresa and Al lived in many places including Arizona, Oregon, Italy, Maryland, Colorado, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Minnesota and back to Arizona. They were longtime members of the Church of the Annunciation in Hazelwood, MN. Theresa loved to travel. She made a trip to Alaska in 2015 to visit her granddaughter. That trip completed her quest to visit all 50 states. She traveled to Europe, Asia and Africa. She loved to recount stories of her travels to exotic locations.

Theresa was an avid reader and a dedicated basket weaver. What started as a basket weaving class became much more! She and Al taught basket weaving classes and made many beautiful baskets. Her children, grandchildren, friends and family all cherish the baskets she and Al made for them over the years.

Theresa loved gardening and she shared her plants and her horticultural knowledge with friends and family. She was part of the Northfield Garden Club for a few years and she worked on the flower containers in Bridge Square and on Division Street..

Theresa loved baking and cooking. She spent many hours poring over cookbooks, finding new recipes to try on her family. She and her sister Bernadette gathered family recipes and created a Malecha family cookbook in 1992 and a second edition in 2006. Family members cherish this cookbook as it contains recipes for many family favorites as well as a family history.

Theresa was proud of her Czech heritage. When she started school at the age of 5 she only spoke Czech. A situation that caused some embarrassment for her older siblings! She visited Czechoslovakia in 1977 and made friends with a family in Prague.

Theresa was a part of the Rosary and Altar Society at Annunciation Church in Hazelwood. Her faith was a foundation in her life and she participated in the life of the church at Hazelwood.

Theresa had a great sense of humor and was loved by her many friends and family. Playing cards, especially euchre and Skip-Bo, was a favorite pastime. Friends would stop by for a visit and they knew they would have good conversation and something nice to eat. Theresa loved to share her knowledge on many topics including her travels, basketry, plants and so many other things!

Therersa was preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Mary (Valek) Malecha, her brothers Eugene and Leonard, her step-daughter Cheryl and her beloved husband Albert Perry. She is survived by her children, Debbie Day, Melanie Bowman (Richard), Patrick Perry, Paul Christen (Kelli Campbell), and Joseph Perry (Amy), 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, and by her siblings Marion Dohman, Rayphael Malecha and Bernadette Whipkey..

Theresa will be remembered for her fun personality, adventuresome spirit, Frog-eye salad, Hummingbird Bars, her flower gardens, her great smile and wonderful laugh. She was one-of-a-kind.

Theresa will be interred at a future date at the Veteran’s Cemetery in Marana, Arizona alongside her husband, Al.

A memorial service will be held at Annunciation Church in Hazelwood, MN on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 11am.