WEBSTER – Theresa M. “Tessie” Rohr, 94, passed away peacefully at Webster Manor on December 25, 2021. She was a lifelong resident of Webster and the daughter of Charles and Julia (Druzbicki) Strzelewicz. She was preceded in death by her husband William K. Rohr in 1963, her son David Rohr in December, 2020 and her sister Charlotte Strzelewicz in July, 2020. She is survived by her daughter Kathleen “Kathi” Rohr and her husband Patrick Courtney of Southampton.
She was a parishioner at Saint Joseph Basilica and a graduate of St. Joseph’s Elementary School and Bartlett High School. Other than the years at home raising her young children, Tessie was employed in the meat department at various grocery stores in Webster and later in Sturbridge. She is fondly remembered as being able to tell a good joke and help a customer choose a good cut of beef to serve for Sunday dinner.
Tessie lived a quiet life of working, reading and socializing with friends but also loved her family trips to the New York World’s Fair, to Misquamicut Beach and to various amusement parks where she was the first in line for the scariest rides. A highlight of her life was her travels to England to visit her friend Pat whom she met through an ad in the Webster Times for a pen-pal exchange during World War II; they remained pen pals and buddies for 74 years, still sharing stories about dancing to big band music and travels.
When Tessie retired from Shaw’s Market she joined the Webster Senior Center where she enjoyed card games, exercise groups and various bus trips. She also became a member of their dancing group, the Silver Dippers, entertaining local nursing home residents with both her dance moves and her jokes.
She spent her latter years as a well-cared for resident of Webster Manor, still enjoying exercises, social activities and telling jokes. Tessie will be sadly missed but remembered with a smile.
He funeral will be held Friday, December 31, at 10:00 AM in Saint Joseph Basilica, 53 Whitcomb Street. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Dudley. The family will receive relatives and friends from 9:30 AM to the time of the Mass of Friday morning in the church. Donations in her name may be made to Webster Manor Patient Activities Fund, 745 School Street, Webster, MA 01570. Arrangements are under the direction of Scanlon Funeral Service, 38 East Main Street, Webster.