Theresa Tyler

BARRE- Theresa (Terry) Tyler, 93, a longtime resident of Barre passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Barre Gardens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Born on July 29, 1931, in Upper Graniteville, she was the only child of Aime (Slim) and Clara (LaPoint) LaFaille. She attended Holy Ghost School in Graniteville and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1949.

Theresa met Don Tyler of Moretown at a Barre city band concert near the gazebo in the park. They dated for three years before getting married on November 4, 1950, at St. Sylvester's Church in Graniteville. Following their wedding they made their home in Barre, and she lived in their house for 70 years. They enjoyed a happy marriage for 55 years until Don's passing in 2005.

Theresa learned to play piano at 6 years old and she continued throughout her life until three months before her passing. She also taught private piano lessons. She retired from the Orange and Barre city school systems as a paraeducator for many years.

She volunteered regularly for a long time playing piano and having fun-filled sing-a-longs for the residents at Berlin Health and Rehabilitation, Lincoln House, and Woodridge Nursing and Rehabilitation. Theresa had a beautiful voice, and she loved playing and singing with her family and friends. She enjoyed her lifelong love of music!

For the majority of her life, she was a member of St. Monica's Catholic Church in Barre.

In her younger years, she worked at The Youth Center in Barre. She enjoyed life's simple joys, such as local Vermont community events, concerts, and chicken pie suppers.

She was a den mother and loved supporting her children's activities. She enjoyed flea markets and garage sales, vacationing at Peacham Pond, Joe's Pond, Harvey's Lake and No. Conway, NH. She and Don were members of the Barre American Legion, where they loved to dance on Saturday nights.

She enjoyed her knitting club friends, her flowers, baking pies and cream puffs, watching The Wheel of Fortune, doing her word search puzzles, and playing Bingo. Terry had lovely penmanship, and she enjoyed receiving and sending cards for every occasion! What she loved most was spending time with her husband, family and friends.

She had a positive, encouraging, and caring attitude and she was patient, kind, courageous and devoted to all.

Survivors include her four children Donna Tyler-Maleska of So. Burlington, VT;  Tim Tyler of Lawrenceville, GA; Doug Tyler of Barre, VT; and Debbie Robinson of Rutland, VT; her three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren in Georgia are Tara and (James) Key and their two children, Bella and Ryker; Amanda and (Paul) Parker and Daniel and (Taylor) Tyler and their  daughter, Olivia; her granddaughter Mackenzie Robinson of Revere, MA and Terry's former son-in-law, Rich Robinson of Rutland.  She also leaves her niece Nancy Tyler of NH and her Godchild Stephanie (Habbep) Chase of NH as well as numerous, nieces, nephews and cousins in VT, NH, MA, CT, FL, CA, and Canada along with dear valued friends. You all know who you are. Thank you for the difference you made in her life!

Aside from her parents and her late mother-in-law, Ruth Tyler, Terry was pre-deceased by her husband Don in October 2005, her son-in-law Gary Maleska in June 2018, and her daughter-in-law Michelle Tyler in October 2023. Extended relatives include her deceased brothers and sisters-in-law Willard Tyler (Barre), Helen Hodlin (CT), Lois Joy (Graniteville), Harold Tyler (CT), and Paul and Pauline Tyler (Barre); as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews on both sides.

At her request, there will be no calling hours and a private family graveside service to honor and celebrate her life will be held at Hope Cemetery in Barre, at the convenience of her family at a future date.