Theresa Anne Morris

Theresa Anne Morris HOLYOKE - On June 9th, 2011 Theresa Anne Morris, of Northampton and Holyoke, Ma died at home after a brave six-month fight with breast cancer. She was 41. Teri was born in Omaha, Nebraska and had childhood homes in Columbia, South Carolina, Phoenix, Arizona and Tolland, Connecticut. As a child she was an avid swimmer, a fan of musicals, scary movies and pop music. At the age of 7 Teri was given her first drum kit. From that moment she pursued drumming with a happy dedication. From her teen years onward Teri was a member of several recording and touring rock bands, most notably: Crystalized Movements, Tizzy, the Wayne Rogers Unit, and So Very Small. Through mutual friends in the music scene she met her longtime partner and husband, Caleb Wetmore. They married in 2006 after a ten-year courtship, and made their home in Holyoke. Teri was a graduate of Tolland High School and The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. She studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and then the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating from the latter in 1992, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor's Degree in Film, Law and Writing. Her first career was in the field of television production. She worked for Comcast at the Northampton cable access studio where she gained the title of Senior Producer, Entertainment Programming. Among her many awards, she was honored with a New England Emmy for her profile of the Alvin Ailey dance camp. In 2003 Teri became a freelance videographer, working throughout New England, covering events that ranged from corporate conferences to rock concerts to professional sports. She became a valued team member as a graphics operator for the "jumbotron" content at the XL Center in Hartford. Teri was a member of the Northampton Cable Advisory Board and a volunteer at Girls Inc. of Holyoke. In 2007 Teri pursued another life-long interest by enrolling at Western New England College School of Law. She was a member of the Bar Review and graduated in May 2010 in the top quarter of her class. During law school she continued to play music and was a volunteer legal advocate at the Massachusetts Justice Project and Safe Passage. In her last year at WNEC she worked as a legal assistant to Peter Irvine, Esq. In November 2010 she was sworn in to the Connecticut and Massachusetts Bars and continued work with Peter as his associate and colleague. Teri's breast cancer diagnosis came on the same day that she was sworn in at Faneuil Hall. Undaunted, she immersed herself in her new career, working as a capable and energetic lawyer as much as her treatments allowed. As her battle with the disease intensified, she was still able to enjoy her life at home. She took comfort in her family and friends, and in an impressive lifetime of accomplishments and loving connections. Teri lived as she intended to: with a graceful strength and integrity, a joyful warmth, and a never-ending generosity. She lives on through her parents Jessie and Gene Morris, her sisters Mary Morris Hyde and Jennifer Morris and their families, and her husband Caleb Wetmore. A memorial celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, June 25th at College Church, 58 Pomeroy Terrace, Northampton at 11:30 am. The family will receive friends from 10:30-11:30am at the church. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Teri's name to Cancer Connection of Northampton, or to a cancer/hospice care center in your local area. The Czelusniak Funeral Home of Northampton is entrusted with arrangements.