Teresa C Wheeler

Teresa C. Wheeler passed away October 25, 2018 at Moosehaven Retirement Community in Orange Park, FL at the age of 90. Teresa was born March 14, 1928 in St. Front, Saskatchewan, Canada. Teresa was a long-time resident of Holland and Derby, Vermont before moving to Florida in the fall of 1987.

As a young woman, Teresa moved from Saskatchewan to Stanstead, Quebec, Canada near the Vermont Border.   Her first job was as a switchboard operator.   Teresa pursued careers in several areas of business over the years, as a bank teller and then as a bookkeeper.

Teresa married Robert J. Wheeler of Holland, VT on June 14, 1951 while “Bob” was on leave from the US Army. After a Niagara Falls honeymoon, they lived at various Army bases in the USA, eventually settling in Holland, VT.

After retiring in FL, she began a new endeavor as a clown, “Just-4-Fun”, bringing smiles and laughter to many children at Nemours Children’s Hospital and to adults in health care facilities.

Teresa volunteered for the Red Cross at the Navy Base Hospital where she received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her many hours of service.  She also was a polling place volunteer. She was affiliated with Lakeshore Florida Lodge 2020 Loyal Order of Moose, was a member of the local VFW, and enjoyed participating in the Annual Mayor’s Walk in Jacksonville for many years.

Teresa was a very sociable person, making friends easily. The friends in Vermont remained dear to her heart and were frequent visitors to their FL home. She enjoyed entertaining friends and family, sewing, gardening, and traveling with Bob.

Teresa and her husband Bob moved to Moosehaven on February 15, 2017.  Despite her health challenges while there, Teresa’s sense of humor shown through due in part to the excellent care she received.

Teresa was preceded in death, in 2017 by her husband of 65 years, Robert J. Wheeler, a brother, John Choiniere, and a sister, Charlotte Coppens. She is survived by her brother, Marcel Choiniere, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; her children, Richard Wheeler and his wife, Suzie (Lessard) of Newport, VT, Kathy (Wheeler) Boyles and her husband, Richard Boyles of Edgewater, FL, Bruce Wheeler and his wife, Cory (Marsh) of Kingsland, GA; her grandchildren, Zachary Boyles, Jonathan Boyles and his wife, Julia, Kathleen Boyles, Jennifer (Wheeler) Gristick and her husband, Bo, and Megan (Wheeler) Judge and her husband, Jeff. Teresa also had two great grandchildren, Jackson Judge and Lucy Boyles. She also leaves behind many special nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 29, 2018, at 11:00 am at the Moosehaven Chapel, 1701 Park Avenue, Orange Park, FL with The Rev. Helen Taylor officiating. Interment of her ashes will be at a later date in Jacksonville National Cemetery.