Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Thoughts and Remembrances

Please click here to leave/read thoughts, remembrances, and celebrations of Terri.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

To the Hatt Family:

I would first off like to send my heartfelt sympathies to you all. Terri was a remarkable woman and I for one am glad I got to know her. She came to work with us in Scarborough Community Services just one year ago and I have to say she brought a unique dimension to our group! She made us laugh and she made us cry. Terri was always honest and never afraid to let us know what she was thinking. And the seniors she served absolutely loved her! It was such fun to watch their interactions at the counter in town hall. We will be forever grateful for knowing Terri, but the time was too short. The family tribute on this page sure does sum up Terri but, most importantly, I cannot stress enough the love she had for her entire family. That was evident everyday. And the love and respect she showed toward her sons was beyond measure. How lucky we all are that we got to know Terri. Please know that you all are in my prayers. Marcia McGinnis

Anonymous said...

We did not have the good fortune to know Terri personally, but we gained a wonderful sense of her through her sister and our dear friend Aimee. We wish you courage at this most difficult time and want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Anonymous said...

Please accept my sincere condolences to all of you. Terri came to work for the Town of Scarborough on January 21, 2008. While I didn't work directly with Terri, I did have chances to speak with her. She always had a ready smile and was very friendly. We will miss her here at the town hall. My prayers are with you during this sad time.

Sincerely, Ruth D. Porter

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry to hear of Terri's death. She was a wonderful person who touched the lives of many in our little town of Scarborough, Maine. She had a real gift with elderly people, and was a tremendous asset to our Senior programming. I will miss her direct, no nonsense approach to the issues that came our way, and the spunk and humor that she coveyed to all around her. She was a real gem. I will keep you all in my prayers. She was very proud of her family and spoke of you often in casual conversation. I loved the funny sister stories especially! Treasure your memories and know that she is with God watching over you all. Tinamarie Smith (Hillcrest Retirement Community Manager)

Anonymous said...

Terri ti amiamo con tutto il cuore. Resterai sempre con noi per tutto l'affetto e i bei momenti che ci hai regalato. Forever


Carolina & Stefano Priore (la tua famiglia italiana)



*****

Anonymous said...

Terri, you passed away, but you may know that my deeply wish was to see you before your departure, we had so may projects for your arrival in Italy, but maybe someday your sons will come and see though their eyes what you could not see.
I will bear you in my heart forever, I will remember your sweet voice, your love for every member of my family, the unconditional availability toward us.
Terri my pray to God is that you already be living in the Eternity of His kindom.
My condolences to Paul and Patrick, Carroll & Jeanne, David, Wendy, Joanna, Aimee and the whole family,
Love forever

Tita Priore and family

Anonymous said...

Terri, you have passed away, my deeply wish was to see you before your departure, we had so many projects to share here in Italy, but maybe someday your sons will come and see though their eyes what you could not see.
Terri I will bear you in my heart forever, I will remember your sweet voice, your love for every member of my family, the unconditional availability toward us.
Terri my pray to God is that you already be living in the Eternity of his Kindom.
My condolences to Paul £ Patrick, to my dear Carrroll and Jeanne, David, Wendy, Joanna, Aimee and all the relatives.

Love forever,

Tita Priore and Family

Anonymous said...

I will always see Terri bustling into a BBBS committee meeting, always late, but always there, filling the room with her warmth, humor, and energy.

We will miss her!

Unknown said...

I first met Terri through Accomplished Professionals. She was by far the best employment consultant I ever used, so good that I tried to hire her rather than any of her clients, but to no avail! We next met at BBBS's New Initiatives Committee where she was the model committee worker, that is, she both came up with good ideas and then executed them flawlessly, and always with good humor and great modesty. She made it look easy but we on the committee knew it was not. Her commitment and energy coupled with her good sense and good will allowed her to be enormously productive, at both the administrative (committee) and personal level as a Big Sister.

I will miss her and constantly will be reminded of her as Appalooza continues to raise funds and community awareness for BBBS. She really made a difference.

Tom Franklin

Anonymous said...

I will always remeber the Little City Park days and Terri's home in Bangor. We had tons of fun and laughter and had a hard time staying out of trouble. Thankfully, she and my sister have remained friends throughout the years and through sis I was kept appraised of Terri's life. She will be greatly missed. My best to her family.

Anonymous said...

Though Terri and I worked together for almost a year in the same office, I didn’t have the privilege of really getting to know her until this past month. Every time I would visit Terri at the Gosnell House, whether it was with my co-workers, or with one the seniors, Terri’s first question was always about the Scarborough Senior WOW program and all of the participants that she had grown to love. She would strongly instruct me on budgets, bus drivers, Wednesday lunches and more. During one visit when we were discussing putting together an intergenerational program with the Bessworth Pre- K children, Terri came up with the idea of having the PK children participate in an “American Idol” competition with the help from the seniors. We all had such a great laugh discussing who would be the judges. Of course Terri insisted she would play the part of Paula Abdul.

During this time I also had the pleasure of meeting Terri’s family, words cannot describe the love that they have for Terri and for each other. When you walked into Terri’s room you could always feel that love and laughter was surrounding her, even during times of sadness and grief.

Terri, Thank you for letting me be part of your life. I will miss you.

Debbie Jones

Steven said...

The cast of characters that make up my family are remarkable. Many of us have come through chaos, and we've made our own share along the way. But through that we've gained strength and built unbreakable bonds. I could tell you stories about how we nagged on each other, but I would tell em with a smile. We are perfectly imperfect. No one more so that my Aunt Terri. She could be stubborn and even forceful, but she was so generous when it came to her time, and her love. My childhood is a long time past, but I can still remember how much she loved me. I didn't have the smoothest of upbringings, but one thing I had, which is THE most important thing for a kid, was the unwavering certainty that I was loved. All the 'Hatt girls' made sure of that. My mom first and foremost, but not far behind was Terri. I was a wrecking ball of energy, and she joined in with me with ticklefests and a laugh I'll never forget. Even when she had her own sons, she made time for me and I know it to my core. I never felt her pull away - which is amazing given the time and energy she put in as a mother. I miss her dearly - in truth maybe more than I would have expected. Unlike her, I seem to take my family for granted sometimes. This sudden reality that they won't always be around will hopefully change that. So with that said, I love you all and you are so important to me. And to Terri - I hope beyond hope that I'm wrong about things and you can hear me - I am a better person for having you as an aunt and I hope that I'll stop crying and believe in my heart that your relief from the pain is worth your absence. People always say 'they broke the mold...' but I'm pretty sure we can all agree that if it's ever been true, it is here. Have peace, and know that I love you as much as you love me - if that's possible.

Anonymous said...

(Read at Terri's funneral by her sister, Joanna.)

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was shen she left my side and she is just as able to bear the load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!" There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

--Henry Van Dyke

Anonymous said...

I want to express my condolences to Terri's family and friends. It was very clear during my visit with her at Gosnell House, that her family was the great source of joy even in the last weeks of her life. She surrounded herself with family pictures and mementos that recalled many pleasant memories which she was anxious to share with her many visitors.

I was shocked to learn of her illness and untimely passing. As a member of Scarborough's Senior Advisory Board, I often met with Terri to exchange ideas that helped launch the town's senior program and ultimately laid the solid foundation for its continuing success.

It took only one meeting to realize that Terri was the right leader for this new program. She had all the attributes that every successful leader possesses--she was organized, she was focused, she knew where she wanted to take the program, and she worked unceasingly toward that goal. Terri's vision and determination caused her to waste no time in getting the program up and running. But what set Terri apart from other leaders was her ability to listen! She listened to the Board, she listened to her colleagues, and most importantly--she listened to Scarborough's seniors. After hearing their ideas, she developed programs, delegated major responsibility to so many dedicated volunteers, and then just stepped aside. She provided the necessary oversight, but never smothered a good idea. Her concern for individual and collective interests and preferences guided her when she came up with fun, as well as educational, programs and field trips. The weekly lunches, the glorious decoration of
Scarborough's Senior VAN for the town's 350th anniversary, and the trips to Hollywood Slots and the Boston Flower Show allowed many new friendships to blossom. There's no doubt that many of us can trace new friends and interests to Terri's unique ability to listen and then to work tirelessly on our behalf.

We will miss her and will remember her each time Scarborough's seniours come together. These friendships will be Terri's lasting legacy.

Anonymous said...

MOM

Oh, Terri, how we miss you.
When I read about all you
have done in your life that
you never bragged to us, I
am even prouder of you than
I have always been. Your
passing was such a waste of a wonderful daughter. My tears are flowing now, but I am glad you are no longer in pain. Dad amd I will forever miss you and loveyou

Anonymous said...

DAD..
I held Terri in my arms, her cheek and mine touched and marked with our tears..Seems like a long time passed and I told Terri that I best get a coffee..( An excuse to hide the tears and move over for Mom..) I passed a small hide-away- window and paused to ask God to give me a signal that he might just be calling Terri for the heavenly journey..As I looked out the small window, I saw a tower in the distance and white trail of smoke streaming out of its side..As I stared at this cloud it suddenly darkened on the top side and four head like forms immediately appeared, then against the blue morning sky a stream of all white vivid like whisp short out and up and was gone in a couple seconds,,The rest of the smoke cloud turned a rich white and stayed so until it moved out of sight..My first talk with GOD as true as I saw it..Terri was being prepared for her journey to be joined by all of us sometime in the future..I look forward to that.. Love you Terri

Anonymous said...

In the short time that I was lucky enough to work with Terri during the 350th Parade planning, she was tireless. Once we discussed the 350th Parade Committee's wish to honor the elders of Scarborough, her face lite up and she embraced the task. Thank you, Terri, for your support, knowledge and fun while finding just the appropriate way to honor the seniors in our town. The WOW program has grown with your dedication and energy. Thank you for all you have done for the WOW Program and the 350th Parade in our town.