Obituary of Teresa Shega

Teresa Shega, 53, died Friday, April 1, 2016, at her home in Duluth of Down Syndrome-related dementia. She was born in Gilbert in 1962, the youngest child of Joseph and Esther Shega. She attended and graduated from Gilbert High School in 1984. After graduation Teresa worked for over 20 years at the Eveleth Nursing Home and later at UDAC in Duluth. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Gilbert. Teresa was a happy, kind and loving person who made friends easily. She was always interested in “trying something different,” which lead her to mastering many activities such as playing the saxophone and recorder, learning to scuba dive, medaling in downhill skiing, swimming, and gymnastics in the Special Olympics. She loved to sing, dance and listen to music, read the sports page, cheer on her favorite political candidate, make chili, walk, fish for “the big one” and play UNO. The family is grateful to all who supported Teresa during her life, particularly the staff of Laverne-DRCC, St. Luke’s Hospice program, the staff at UDAC, and the Eveleth Nursing Home. They are also grateful to the volunteers of the Range ARC and Special Olympics program, her school teachers and her neighbors and friends in Gilbert and Duluth who helped keep her happy, engaged, and safe during her life. Survivors include her mother; brothers, John (Kathy) and Tom (Pamela); sister, Nancy (Bill); aunts, Ruth Burger and Sandra (Dennis) Medjo; nephew, Steven (Kristin) Shega; nieces, Tracy (Nick) Grimme and Amy Shega; numerous cousins; and special friend, Donna Sauder. She was preceded in death by her father and her grandparents. o Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.