Theresa Anne Buteau
January 14, 1949 — August 5, 2015
Theresa Anne Buteau
THERESA ANNE BUTEAU
Theresa Anne Buteau, 66, of Woodsville NH died at home on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, following a courageous battle with cancer. Theresa was born on January 14, 1949, at Beatrice D. Weeks Memorial Hospital in Lancaster NH to Roland Clifford and Mary Catherine (Monahan) Buteau.
Theresa was well known among friends and family as our resident historian. She worked tirelessly to compile information regarding her family tree and was always the "go to" person whenever anyone needed to fact-check someone's birthday, where something happened, or remember the details of a shared memory. Theresa could also share the patchwork of memories and details that made up her own autobiography – a story that is both inspiring and heartwarming.
Theresa was born early – premature at a time when these tiny babies had little chance for survival. More than one doctor advised her parents to forget she had even been born. Instead, her parents took her to their Kilkenny Street home in Lancaster, loved her and raised her as the oldest of what would eventually be a family of five children.
At two years old, Theresa was formally diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and doctors again predicted the worst – she would never walk or talk, read or write, would not have the use of her hands and would most likely be "profoundly retarded." In response, the family did what it did best – loved and supported Theresa as she continued to grow and learn.
At 6 years old, she entered New Hampshire's first "specialized education" class of 25 children in a residential program at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center. She continued to study there until she was 17, coming home only for vacations and breaks. In the interim, the family made many trips along the old US Route 3 to visit her. In those days before I-93 was constructed, the trip took a whole day and the family often broke the long rides in her grandmother's Chrysler by stopping for picnic lunches in some interesting places.
Theresa asked that a special mention of thanks be made to Leona Hall, Kathleen Cardinal and Patricia Sanborn for their kind assistance with her education during breaks from Crotched Mountain and after her return home in 1966. In particular, Theresa valued the support and teaching of Mrs. Sanborn as she worked to earn her high school diploma in 1967 so that she could graduate on time with the other children in her community who would have been classmates, had the public schools been available to her. Theresa's diploma always hung in a place of pride wherever she lived as a reminder of what she could achieve when she set her mind to it.
Theresa was very fortunate to have enjoyed time at both her grandparents' camp on Neal's Pond in Lunenburg VT and at the Fergusson family's camp on Martin Meadow Pond in Lancaster NH – two of her favorite places in the world. She also enjoyed rake knitting, painting with Artex paints, writing her life story, making beautiful potholders for everyone she knew, reading and staying in touch with hundreds of friends and family members all over the world. She was often the first to call with birthday wishes, no matter what time it was where you lived!
Contrary to the dire predictions her parents received in 1951, Theresa did walk for a time with braces and crutches before using a wheelchair. She was a voracious reader and anyone who knew her can attest that she never had trouble talking! Theresa decided that her personal mission was to share hugs, and she spent her life focusing on the good in others.
In 1975, Theresa made the decision to move into a local nursing home less than a mile from her childhood home. She lived there until 2010, when she decided to try home-based care again. At 61, she moved into the home of Bernice "Bea" Shutt in Woodsville NH, where modern technology allowed for new and exciting adventures. The family thanks Mark Vincent and Paula Ball of Common Ground for their support through this process.
Theresa was an early adopter of technology, learning to use computers in the mid-1980s and loving the capacity of her Kindle (and the great tech support!). She was a committed fan of the Boston Red Sox and one of her favorite activities was sitting under a tree on a summer day, listening to the Red Sox game on her radio and reading a book. She volunteered locally, reading to elementary school students and teaching children rake knitting. Through it all, she also taught those around her to see beyond a person's physical limitations and value the beauty of their spirit.
The family wishes to share in Theresa's love and heartfelt gratitude for Bea Shutt's unending love and compassion as Theresa's caregiver and dear friend. With Bea's help, Theresa experienced newfound freedoms and adventures, including staying home alone for the first time in her life and watching Bea's great granddaughter, Taydin, grow from a small baby to a beautiful young girl. Theresa and her family also extend these feelings of gratitude and love to Dawn and Dale Patneaude, Tiffany, Taydin and Meah Glynn and Alison Darling, who together formed Theresa's Woodsville family and meant so very much to her.
Theresa was predeceased by her mother, Mary Catherine (Monahan) Buteau of Lancaster NH, and her sister-in-law, Dorothy L. McCarthy of South Burlington VT. She is survived by her father, Roland Buteau, of Lancaster NH, her brothers Patrick Buteau of South Burlington VT, Andrew and wife Sue Manah Buteau of Lancaster NH, Philip and wife Lorri Buteau of Sutton NH, and sister Marie and husband Kevin Ricker of Groton VT. Theresa is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Joseph and Katie Buteau of Wellesley MA, Roseanna Buteau of South Burlington VT, George Buteau of South Burlington VT, Kristen and Frister van Bergen of Whitefield NH, Andrew and Erin Buteau of Sunnyvale CA, Anne and Christopher Iampietro of Lancaster NH, Jon and Jaime Buteau of Sutton NH, Timothy Buteau of Sutton NH, Megghan Jackson of Londonderry NH and Derrick Ricker of Groton VT and their families, including 12 grandnieces and nephews, as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins. Theresa also cherished a large circle of extended family and friends that are too numerous to list individually, but were nonetheless a very important part of Theresa's life.
At Theresa's request, a formal memorial service will not be held. Instead, the family will welcome visitors to an open house in September, where friends and family will be invited to share memories and celebrate Theresa's life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please root for Theresa's beloved Red Sox, share hugs freely and honor her generous spirit by making a donation in her name to the charity of your choice.
Theresa Anne Buteau, 66, of Woodsville NH died at home on Wednesday, August 5, 2015, following a courageous battle with cancer. Theresa was born on January 14, 1949, at Beatrice D. Weeks Memorial Hospital in Lancaster NH to Roland Clifford and Mary Catherine (Monahan) Buteau.
Theresa was well known among friends and family as our resident historian. She worked tirelessly to compile information regarding her family tree and was always the "go to" person whenever anyone needed to fact-check someone's birthday, where something happened, or remember the details of a shared memory. Theresa could also share the patchwork of memories and details that made up her own autobiography – a story that is both inspiring and heartwarming.
Theresa was born early – premature at a time when these tiny babies had little chance for survival. More than one doctor advised her parents to forget she had even been born. Instead, her parents took her to their Kilkenny Street home in Lancaster, loved her and raised her as the oldest of what would eventually be a family of five children.
At two years old, Theresa was formally diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and doctors again predicted the worst – she would never walk or talk, read or write, would not have the use of her hands and would most likely be "profoundly retarded." In response, the family did what it did best – loved and supported Theresa as she continued to grow and learn.
At 6 years old, she entered New Hampshire's first "specialized education" class of 25 children in a residential program at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center. She continued to study there until she was 17, coming home only for vacations and breaks. In the interim, the family made many trips along the old US Route 3 to visit her. In those days before I-93 was constructed, the trip took a whole day and the family often broke the long rides in her grandmother's Chrysler by stopping for picnic lunches in some interesting places.
Theresa asked that a special mention of thanks be made to Leona Hall, Kathleen Cardinal and Patricia Sanborn for their kind assistance with her education during breaks from Crotched Mountain and after her return home in 1966. In particular, Theresa valued the support and teaching of Mrs. Sanborn as she worked to earn her high school diploma in 1967 so that she could graduate on time with the other children in her community who would have been classmates, had the public schools been available to her. Theresa's diploma always hung in a place of pride wherever she lived as a reminder of what she could achieve when she set her mind to it.
Theresa was very fortunate to have enjoyed time at both her grandparents' camp on Neal's Pond in Lunenburg VT and at the Fergusson family's camp on Martin Meadow Pond in Lancaster NH – two of her favorite places in the world. She also enjoyed rake knitting, painting with Artex paints, writing her life story, making beautiful potholders for everyone she knew, reading and staying in touch with hundreds of friends and family members all over the world. She was often the first to call with birthday wishes, no matter what time it was where you lived!
Contrary to the dire predictions her parents received in 1951, Theresa did walk for a time with braces and crutches before using a wheelchair. She was a voracious reader and anyone who knew her can attest that she never had trouble talking! Theresa decided that her personal mission was to share hugs, and she spent her life focusing on the good in others.
In 1975, Theresa made the decision to move into a local nursing home less than a mile from her childhood home. She lived there until 2010, when she decided to try home-based care again. At 61, she moved into the home of Bernice "Bea" Shutt in Woodsville NH, where modern technology allowed for new and exciting adventures. The family thanks Mark Vincent and Paula Ball of Common Ground for their support through this process.
Theresa was an early adopter of technology, learning to use computers in the mid-1980s and loving the capacity of her Kindle (and the great tech support!). She was a committed fan of the Boston Red Sox and one of her favorite activities was sitting under a tree on a summer day, listening to the Red Sox game on her radio and reading a book. She volunteered locally, reading to elementary school students and teaching children rake knitting. Through it all, she also taught those around her to see beyond a person's physical limitations and value the beauty of their spirit.
The family wishes to share in Theresa's love and heartfelt gratitude for Bea Shutt's unending love and compassion as Theresa's caregiver and dear friend. With Bea's help, Theresa experienced newfound freedoms and adventures, including staying home alone for the first time in her life and watching Bea's great granddaughter, Taydin, grow from a small baby to a beautiful young girl. Theresa and her family also extend these feelings of gratitude and love to Dawn and Dale Patneaude, Tiffany, Taydin and Meah Glynn and Alison Darling, who together formed Theresa's Woodsville family and meant so very much to her.
Theresa was predeceased by her mother, Mary Catherine (Monahan) Buteau of Lancaster NH, and her sister-in-law, Dorothy L. McCarthy of South Burlington VT. She is survived by her father, Roland Buteau, of Lancaster NH, her brothers Patrick Buteau of South Burlington VT, Andrew and wife Sue Manah Buteau of Lancaster NH, Philip and wife Lorri Buteau of Sutton NH, and sister Marie and husband Kevin Ricker of Groton VT. Theresa is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Joseph and Katie Buteau of Wellesley MA, Roseanna Buteau of South Burlington VT, George Buteau of South Burlington VT, Kristen and Frister van Bergen of Whitefield NH, Andrew and Erin Buteau of Sunnyvale CA, Anne and Christopher Iampietro of Lancaster NH, Jon and Jaime Buteau of Sutton NH, Timothy Buteau of Sutton NH, Megghan Jackson of Londonderry NH and Derrick Ricker of Groton VT and their families, including 12 grandnieces and nephews, as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins. Theresa also cherished a large circle of extended family and friends that are too numerous to list individually, but were nonetheless a very important part of Theresa's life.
At Theresa's request, a formal memorial service will not be held. Instead, the family will welcome visitors to an open house in September, where friends and family will be invited to share memories and celebrate Theresa's life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please root for Theresa's beloved Red Sox, share hugs freely and honor her generous spirit by making a donation in her name to the charity of your choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Theresa Anne Buteau, please visit our flower store.
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