Teresita (Teri) Duenas Thomas was born on October 5, 1951 on the beautiful island of Guam. She went to her heavenly home on January 8, 2013.
At the death of her first husband, Pete Elatico, Teri raised their two children, LeeAnne and James in Southern California.
In 1989 she met and then married her 2nd and one and only love, Richard “Doc” Thomas in 1994. He gave Teri his three children as her own, Toni, Doug and Greg. In 1994, Teri and Richard moved to Prosser with their son, James, and started a wonderful loving life together.
Teri is survived by her children and grandchildren, LeeAnne (Keith) Grady and son, Joshua Halley of Tacoma, WA and Chris Halley (Joshua’s father) of Richland, OR, James (Peggy) Elatico, and children, Haylee, Paige, Bryn & Kade of Prosser, Toni (Mike) Schlensker and son, Brad DeGraaf of Lakewood, CA and his daughter , Kilsey (Teri’s only great-grandchild), Doug Thomas and children, Michael and Kaysee of Lincoln, CA and Greg Thomas of Lakewood, CA and children, Gregory (in the Air Force) of New Mexico and Justin of Pennsylvania; her siblings, Rosalia (Frank) Ignacio of Las Vegas, NV, Dolores (Sandy) Toves and Jesus Duenas, all of San Diego, CA, Antonia (Toni) Duenas-Ignacio of Bellflower, CA, Maria (Jaime Higareda) Forbes of Sacramento, CA and Anita (Dennis) Dahler of San Diego, CA; and numerous, loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Juan Tenorio Duenas and Maria Cruz Duenas; her siblings, Candy Crisostomo, Bernadino Duenas, Victoria Flores and Jose Duenas.
Toward the end of her journey here, she listed the things that gave her pleasure. Her patient, loving husband, Richard; seeing the birth of her grandkids, Joshua, Haylee, Paige, Bryn and Kade; love, laughter of family and friends; her sister, friend, Antonia (Toni), for years and years of love, shoulder and support; playing shop at Quilters Garden with Shirley Steelman; quilting sisters with Starlight Quilters Guild – how she loves quilting; and, yard work and her many plants.
Teri left this message: “It all comes down to this – love and happy thoughts. Nothing else is important. I felt love from so many. I’m content.”
At her request, there will be no services.