Rev. Dr. Teresa Marie Roberts' Obituary
Roberts, Rev. Dr. Teresa Marie
1954 – 2024
Our beautiful Teresa (70) passed away peacefully September 27, 2024, at Flagstone Presbyterian Homes in Eden Prairie, MN. Rev. Dr. Teresa Marie Roberts was born June 13, 1954, at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, IL., yet mostly grew up in San Diego, CA. Despite moving all over the country throughout her lifetime, Teresa remained a “California Girl” at heart plus she maintained a very close relationship with her 4 siblings who remain in that area. Teresa was always ready to lend good humor plus kind and welcomed support even across the miles to them and their Mom and Dad through frequent visits and other means of warm and loving contact over the years.
Teresa maintained a passion for physical fitness throughout her life, and along with her tenure on the Volleyball (in college too) and Field Hockey teams, she also honed her Fosbury-Flop skills when on the Track team in High School, plus everywhere she went locally she walked or rode her bicycle in those early years (and continued bicycling later as well). Most importantly the foundation of Teresa’s faith journey was clearly laid at Northminster Presbyterian Church in San Diego, where she was very active in the youth ministry there (with her talents she also sung in the choir and performed modern dance during services…Teresa loved music, singing and dance throughout her life…particularly Swing and was a joyful dancer, then in later years participated as both a choir and a duo singer in Giving Voice), plus was a fixture in productive fundraising for church youth programs as well as supported many charitable outreach ministries too, along with playing a role in the church session across her adolescent, young adult and early college years.
Teresa attended San Diego Community College, initially focusing her attention on teaching children, then later earned her undergraduate degree from Whitworth College in Washington. During summer break her drive to serve others brought her to Mount Hermon Christian Youth Camp near Santa Cruz, CA, where she worked with and met her future first husband. After their marriage they both attended Fuller Theological Seminary, and Teresa earned her Master of Divinity, with her ordination to the Presbyterian Church USA following in 1984, then she subsequently faithfully served in 13 Presbyterian and United Church of Christ congregations over more than 3 decades. Teresa and her husband lovingly brought 3 wonderful children into the world and their lives as well. Teresa’s passion and generosity also shown through her love and delight for her children, Sarah, Noel, and Laura (and her grandson Eli), and she consistently and lovingly supported each of them in the direction they took for their own lives.
Teresa was an exceptional pastor and preacher (she shared with her listening flocks her superior storytelling skills, as she weaved elements of her daily life and current events to relate to and understand Holy Scripture and Christ’s love). Given her seemingly boundless energy and Spirit, she tirelessly provided pastoral care to her congregations with insight, generosity and grace. Consistently reflecting on her Lord’s servant leadership and passion for humankind throughout her entire career, Teresa’s ministry focused also on uplifting the voices of society’s most vulnerable members and she was a fierce advocate for the impoverished and marginalized in the communities she served and beyond.
A lifelong-learner, despite her busy parental and pastoral schedule, Teresa buckled down and also received her Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary at age 53. Even when she no longer ministered to a congregation, she continued to serve her community. Most recently she was a member of the Mayo Clinic (Rochester) Institutional Review Board, as well as accepted the role of Oblate of Saint Benedict at Saint John’s University and Abbey. In addition, for the past 15 years, she was the passionate, joy-seeking and loving wife of her husband, Jim, and she and he courageously and stoically addressed together challenges resulting from her unfortunate brain trauma (augmented with additional support from her children, family and friends) with her mantra, “I choose happiness”.
Even when faced with challenges throughout her life, Teresa always shone as a beacon of positivity, compassion, and grace to her family, friends, congregations, and community. She lived life to the fullest and spread that enthusiasm wherever she went. She loved, loved, loved life, and never took it for granted. She lived well and died with a smile on her face. She was, indeed our beautiful Teresa.
Teresa was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Ethel (Lang) Roberts, plus her former husband Rev. Mark Chamberlain. She is survived by her husband, Jim Secord, her children Rev. Sarah (Rev. Christopher) Hooker and grandson Eli, Noel Chamberlain, and Laura Chamberlain (and partner Corey McCorkle), as well as sisters Shirley (Ed) Wilson, Carol (Steve) Sande, Diana (Lance) Martini, and brother Richard (Terri) Roberts along with numerous nephews, nieces, step-children and -grandchildren. The family extends their thanks to both the devoted staff at Flagstone who have cared for Teresa over the past three years, and for the compassionate care provided by the Park Nicollet Hospice team during Teresa’s final days. Funeral services were held on Friday, October 11, 2024 at Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata MN. Teresa life and memory will be again honored by a graveside service presided by her daughter, Rev. Sarah Hooker in the presence of her other two children, husband, and members of her California family, then her cremains will be buried with her mother and father at Greenwood Cemetery in her beloved San Diego on 14 March 2025. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Giving Voice Chorus
Scholarship Fund (7400 Metro Blvd, Suite 255, Minneapolis MN 55439), One Great Hour of Sharing (specialofferings.pcusa.org/make-a-gift/gift-info/oghs), or a congregation/ministry meaningful to you.
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