Obituary of Teri-Lee Hawkins

Teri-Lee clung to the words of her favorite psalm as she did to life itself. Despite being diagnosed, at the early age of 30, with A.L.S. (more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease), in August of 1995, and being 14 weeks pregnant at the time, Teri-Lee remained the pillar of strength and the inspirational force behind all those who loved her and struggled to understand her disease. At home on Sunday, January 19, 2003, at the age of 38, it was time for Teri-Lee to say a peaceful good-bye to her friends and family. A week after Teri-Lee gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Erin-Lee in January of 1996, she went on life support. She was able to go home from the hospital two months later. While on life support, Teri-Lee managed to make trips to New York, Halifax, Nashville, Seattle and church. She also made a trip to see the Confederation Bridge with her husband and daughter. The fact that Teri-Lee became paralyzed early on in her disease, in no way kept her from doing what she loved best: being a devoted mother to Erin-Lee. She organized everything from making out grocery lists, to what her daughter would wear each day, to training her care-givers. Teri-Lee never took the easy road. In six months, Teri-Lee typed four pages of a letter to her daughter, Erin-Lee, using only her chin and a device attached to her computer. She persevered until she was satisfied with what she had written. Teri-Lee never gave up. The people who rallied around Teri-Lee, whether it be her family, friends, co-workers, those she knew through volleyball, Father Alvin Westgate, who devoted Wednesday evenings to prayer with Teri-Lee, or those who didn't know her, but were touched by her story, are a testimony of the great love and faith she lived by. Teri-Lee was a young woman who took tremendous joy in life. When she was well, she was actively involved with sports (especially volleyball), friends, and instructing at the Community College. She was instrumental in setting up the Saint John Chapter of the A.L.S. Society. Even after her illness left her paralyzed, her enthusiasm was evident in the way she tackled household affairs, visited with friends, and encouraged others. She always said that, "despite appearances, she had a good quality of life." And, when you look at the impact her life had on those around her, its hard to disagree. Teri-Lee loved life until the end. Teri-Lee is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Donnie, and beautiful daughter, Erin-Lee. Teri-Lee was the youngest daughter of Jack Brookins and the late Phyllis (Melvin) Brookins. Also, she is survived by two sisters, Crystal Layden of Moncton, and Sharon Brookins of Saint John, one brother, Johnny Brookins of Saint John, and a truly devoted friend, Patty Mersereau of Saint John. Teri-Lee is resting at Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB, (506) 634-7424. Visiting will take place on Tuesday from 7-9 PM and Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 11:00 AM from Church of St. John the Baptist (Mission Church) and St. Clement's, 815 Millidge Avenue, with Father Alvin Westgate officiating. Interment will follow at Fernhill Cemetery. A reception will follow the interment at the church hall. The pallbearers will be Teri-Lee's cousin, Allen Clifford, and friends, Chuck Edison, Kirk Wilson, Dick Hickey, John Leggett, George Lucas, Jay Mersereau, and Bob Vaughan. Honorary pallbearers will be friends, Colleen Barry, Melanie Bell, Linda Brown, Debbie Hayes, Paula Kemp, Maureen Hickey, Colleen Leggett, Patty Mersereau, and Janet Vaughan. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate remembrances to the Church of St. John the Baptist (Mission Church) and St. Clement's or to the A.L.S Society, Saint John Chapter. www.brenansfh.com