Theresa Roy

Theresa Roy, 85, of Methuen, MA, peacefully passed away on May 29, 2022, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Born on February 16, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Romeo and Emilia (Hamel) Lefebvre.

A very compassionate, happy, humorous person, Theresa loved to have fun. She created beautiful paintings, enjoyed leisure travel, loved to sing, and especially loved the time she spent with her grandchildren and lifelong friends. In the last few years of her life, she enjoyed singing along with the music of John Denver. His music brought her joy, peace and kept alive her love for singing in her final years.

Born in Tewksbury, MA, and raised in Lawrence, MA, Theresa was the oldest of seven siblings. At the age of 12, she found herself in foster care. This experience had a strong impact on her and the decisions she made. When released from foster care at 18, she rented a room at the Lawrence YWCA, where she met many of her lifelong friends. She also completed her education and graduated from Sacred Heart in 1957. During this time, she attended many dances at Fort Devens. During one of the bus rides to Fort Devens, she agreed to correspond with a friend’s brother, Leo Roy Jr., who was in the Air Force stationed in the Philippines. This correspondence grew into love and a marriage lasting almost 63 years, until his death in March 2022.

Family and her Catholic faith were Theresa’s highest priorities. She always made time for her children, extended family members, her friends, her husband and the church. While raising a new family, Theresa and Leo invited into their home three of her younger brothers and a sister, as they were orphaned and had no other home. Together they cared for her siblings while raising the children born from their marriage. The full house was filled with love that created many wonderful memories. In addition to Theresa’s singing, she took art classes from a neighbor, soon discovering a natural talent and passion that has provided a legacy of paintings for her children to enjoy and cherish.

As her children became independent, Theresa focused her boundless energy toward sharing new experiences with Leo. They set off to see the world. They loved to travel together, and with close friends. From cruises to Alaska, through the Panama Canal, and down the rivers of Europe, and guided tours of the National Parks, and European countries, to visiting extended family members across the US, Theresa and Leo’s love for one another was always on display. They also shared many hobbies with each other, including ball room dancing, hiking in the White Mountains, singing in Methuen’s senior center choir, and friendly competition in local Bocce events. Her compassionate heart, selflessness, sense of fun and love will be sorely missed.

Along with her parents, Theresa is pre-deceased by the love of her life and husband of over sixty years, Leo Joseph Roy. Jr.; siblings, Ronald, Tom, John, Beatrice Lefebvre; and son in-law, Ralph Potter, Jr.

Theresa will be deeply missed and is survived by her loving children: Kevin Roy and his significant other Wendy Iffland of Wakefield, NH, David Roy and his wife Jana of Taft, TN, Kimarie Roy and her significant other Robert Millar of Methuen, MA, Deanna Perron and her husband Ed of Dunlop, TN, and Lea Proia-Roy and her wife Lucy of Newton, MA; siblings, Jim and Richard Lefebvre; her beloved grandchildren, Nathan Roy, Joshua Roy, Mitchel Roy, Christopher Proia-Roy, and Catie Proia-Roy; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend calling hours on Monday, June 6, 2022, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Cataudella Funeral Home, 126 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen. A funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at 11:00 AM at St. Lucy Parish, 254 Merrimack Street, Methuen, MA. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Theresa's memory to the MSPCA at Nevins Farm Animal Care and Adoption Center https://www.mspca.org, the Arc https://thearc.org, or to the Alzheimer's Association, https://www.alz.org.