Theresa "Terry" M. Schwan

She spent her youth growing up in a loving family in Lake Orion, MI, with her late siblings Robert Joseph O’Connor Jr., Kathleen Ann O’Connor, and Jeanne Marie White. Her adventurous spirit led her to go straight from high school to work at the Pentagon for the Navy doing clerical work. She loved working and living in Washington D.C., where she discovered and honed her love of dancing. She also made it out to San Francisco, CA, to live with her sister, Kathy, before moving back to MI for the duration of her life. She continued her clerical and administrative work and finished her career as a media clerk in Warren Consolidated Schools where she enjoyed helping students and being surrounded by books.

In Michigan, Terry met and married the love of her life, the late Steven “Steve” James Schwan, on October 14, 1972. They spent 50 years in each other’s loving company. They enjoyed many things in life together like riding motorcycles, taking family road trips, enjoying gatherings with friends, and traveling internationally both for fun and with their church, Fellowship Chapel. She is the loving mother of the late Jeffrey James Schwan, Erika Amber Schwan, and step-mom to Steven Miller Schwan. Terry also had the distinctive joy of being reunited with her first-born daughter, Carolyn Hall, whom she enjoyed many good visits with. She is the loving grandma to Gage Jeffrey Schwan and Garret Steven Schwan. She celebrated her friendship with her sister-in-law, Arlyle Bradley. She is an adoring aunt to Michael John O’Connor and Delano Vanneto O’Connor Thomas, Patrick Jones, Wendy Heatherly, and Shelly Rosales.

Terry was happiest when doing and celebrating life with family and friends, many of whom she considered family. Terry loved being a mother and attended countless soccer games, basketball games, cross country and track meets. She probably ran almost as much as Jeff and Erika at their cross country meets to cheer them on exuberantly! She always came ready with snacks, blankets, ponchos and anything a person could need, and for any type of weather, in the trunk of her car and in her ample purse. Terry and Steve remained true partners throughout life and she loved date nights with Steve every Friday, which they did for years.

Terry was a true nurturer by nature. This was evidenced by her natural green thumb in her gardens at home, and also in her service at Fellowship Chapel. Terry’s faith was central to her life and she dedicated 41 years to the Fellowship Chapel in Sterling Heights. Over the years, she served in a variety of ways. Early on, she and Steve co-led teen youth groups, she helped in the church nursery, and she also led a women's exercise group. She loved being in the church choir and singing in Christmas Cantatas for countless years. Terry, a voracious reader, ran a book club at Fellowship Chapel for 13 years and spearheaded renovating the church library. She was part of a community group, Parents with Teens, where she found and gave support. She sponsored and guided many people through the Alpha program, encouraging people in their faith every step of the way.

She always made people feel welcome with her bright smile, listening ear, kind heart, and words of encouragement. Terry will always be remembered for the beautiful person she was, her enduring faith and spirit, her zest for life, and how well she loved the people in her life. She will be greatly missed.

Visitation Monday, December 16th from 4pm until 8pm at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 32000 Schoenherr Road in Warren. Visitation Tuesday, December 17th from 9:30am until time of Funeral Service at 10am at Fellowship Chapel 12875 E 14 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48312. Burial to take place at Cadillac Memorial Gardens East in Clinton Twp.

Donations appreciated to: Fellowship Chapel; www.fellowshipchapel.net or CJD Foundation; www.cjdfoundation.org