On January 1, 2021, Therese “Teri” Hoehner Ford, loving wife and mother to 3 children, passed away at the age of 69.
Teri was born on October 30, 1951, in Richland, Washington, to Boyd and Louise Snyder. She moved to Concord, California, at the age of five, and her affinity for the charming town led to her becoming a lifelong resident. Growing up, Teri enjoyed ballet dancing, summering in New York at her “Auntie’s farm,” and going to church with her family. Later, she graduated in Carondelet’s first ever-graduating class of 1969, a memory she fondly reflected upon.
Teri put college on the backburner so she could raise her three children. A true renaissance woman, Teri worked as a secretary, a baker, a project manager, and a special education assistant. “Gramma Cookie’s” baking skills were always on full display during the holidays - specifically Christmas - when she would whip up batches of her world-class snickerdoodles to share with family and friends. She cherished baking with her daughter, granddaughters, and loved ones.
Beloved by those who had the pleasure of meeting her, she had too many friends to keep track of, and as a result, was involved in many social circles. She enjoyed her days playing Bunko with the girls, attending bible study at Peet’s Coffee, joining up with her “Masked Marauders” to play intense games of California Rummy, and cherishing her grandchildren. Her devout faith and immense love for Jesus also led her to become an active member of church and the Catholic Daughters.
Teri, known for her tremendous determination, was disappointed she never finished college due to parental obligations. This led her to enroll in night classes while working full-time, so she could slowly start chipping away at that elusive college degree. In 1997, all that hard work paid off and Teri proudly earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Dominican College, graduating Magna Cum Laude to boot!
But most of all, Teri was known for an immense courage and bravery. A three-time breast cancer survivor, Teri was a beacon of hope for the afflicted. After her first diagnosis at the age of 41, Teri began a lifelong battle with the disease. Moreover, she never felt sorry for herself, never wavered, and never shed a tear. She would council those going through similar diagnoses and showed others that they really can take a stand against cancer. She was a hero. Unfortunately, in 2014, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which eventually became too much for her body to take. Reunited with her best friend, Mary Ann, and niece, Debie, they can resume their late night gabbing sessions.
She will be greatly missed and is survived by her loving husband Michael Ford, her daughter Christine (Terri) Cooper, two sons Nathanael (Jennifer) Hoehner and Martin Hoehner, three step sons Michael (Jessica) Ford, Tyler (Sheridan) Ford, Travis Ford, her brother Ronald (Suzie) Snyder, her sister Rosemary (Mark) Peters, her nephew Thomas Snyder, her three nieces Cynthia (Guy) Gross, Julia Gravelle Snyder, Alyson (Eric) Bonner, and her grandchildren Makena, Abigale, Mariah, Malia, Malachi, Eli Michael, Isabella, Hope, Molly, and James. She was preceded in death by her brother Paul Snyder, her niece Debie (Michael) Souders, and her nephew Zakk Peters. Those who knew her best loved her the most; she was a true angel.