Theresa D. Mayo

Theresa (Terry) D. (Vander-Heyden) Mayo passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on
Monday, August 10, 2020, at 92 years of age.
Terry was born on March 8, 1928 in Wilton NH. She was one of 8 children born to Donalda (Pellerin)
Vander-Heyden and Louis Alphonse Vander-Heyden. She was predeceased by her husband Maurice G.
Mayo; her 3 brothers: Andre, Paul, and Eddy; and her 3 sisters: Rita Kagen, Alice Canavan, and Merilda
Lane. She is survived by her brother, Leon Vander-Heyden of Tuscon Arizona; her four sons: David Mayo
and his wife Dolores of Wauchula FL, Daniel Mayo and his wife Linda of Moultonboro NH, Peter Mayo
and his wife Beth of Merrimack NH, Gregory Mayo and his wife Jennifer of Salem NH; and one daughter,
Diane Mayo and her husband Ric Dunworth of Rutland Town VT. She is also survived by 15 loving
grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by her extensive family, including
nieces, nephews, and more; as well as by her friends.
Terry graduated from the Presentation of Mary Academy in Hudson NH. After graduation she moved to
Manchester where she met the love of her life “Moe” when she would go dancing at the Carousel Ball
Room. They were married in May of 1950, and in her words, “Moe was my life, my love, my happiness”
for over 65 years.
Terry had a strong Catholic faith and devotion to Mary but also believed that God was all around her. She
said “Loss and hope could be described by the cycle of seasons. Crisp leaves falling from the trees in
autumn to tiny pussy willow buds heralding spring and new life. Always glimpses of God’s touch in
everyday happenings.”
Terry was a vibrant and charismatic woman who loved to laugh and was always trying to spread joy and
love to everyone around her. One of her many (and favorite) sayings was “there isn’t a person on earth
she wouldn’t hug”. She often said that she wanted to be remembered as a loving wife and mother, and a
good friend and cook to all. But there was so much more to her than that.
In addition to enjoying raising
her children and spending time with her grandchildren, she loved boating with Moe. They started with a
daysailer on Lake Massabesic in their early years, and cruised on through to a trawler along the Maine
coast in their golden years. She loved to dress fun and fashionably and was known for her cherry-red
fingernail polish, as well as the platforms and spiked heels she wore well into her final years. Music was a
big part of her life, and she played in a band with her son Greg up until her final weeks. She would say
“It’s not a party unless there’s music”. She was known for her many “tootles” which she described as
being like a doodle, except instead of drawings she used words. During the last year of her life, she
completed her dream to publish them in book form, and titled it “Terry’s Tootles and Tidbits –
Reflections from a life well loved and a love well lived”.
A private funeral Mass and burial is being held for the family.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to one of the following charities:
Macular Degeneration Association
https://macularhope.org
Alzheimer’s Foundations
https://alzfdn.org
Sisters of the Precious Blood
https://srspreciousbllodnh.org
 

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