Theresa Babette Sefcik

Theresa “Oma” Sefcik
March 6, 1927 – February 17, 2026

Theresa “Oma” Sefcik of Waterford passed away on February 17, 2026, just weeks shy of her 99th birthday.

Born in Erlangen, Germany, to Wendell and Babette Frey, Theresa was the youngest of seven children and a survivor of World War II. In 1953, she married James Andriopoulos, who was stationed in Germany while serving in the United States Army. Following their marriage, they moved to the United States and settled in Astoria, New York. In the early 1960s, the family relocated to New London, Connecticut, and in 1965 settled in Niantic, where she raised her family.

In the years that followed, she owned and operated clothing boutiques in Pawcatuck and Haddam. In 1991, she married George Sefcik and moved to Washington, D.C., and later to Florida before returning to Connecticut in 2004 following his passing.

After returning to Connecticut, Theresa settled in Mystic, where she stayed active in her community, taking painting classes, swimming at the YMCA, and enjoying time at her favorite restaurants. She had a lifelong passion for travel, especially to Europe, and traveled extensively throughout her life, always eager for her next adventure. She loved reading romance novels, dancing, singing, knitting, and gardening, and had a soft spot for animals. Funny, sharp-witted, kind, outspoken, and full of energy, she was often the center of the room — if you met her, you never forgot her. She faced every stage of life with strength, humor, and grace, and even in her later years, her spirit and sharp sense of humor never left her.

Family meant everything to Theresa, and she remained closely connected to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, loving them deeply and holding fast to her spirit until the very end. She brought joy and magic to her grandchildren, singing to them in German, playing pretend, and crocheting countless blankets.

She is survived by her children: Frank Andriopoulos of Groton; Yvonne (Daniel) Cox of Fredericksburg, VA; Catherine Andriopoulos of Tarpon Springs, FL; Suzanne (Phil) Morin of Waterford; and Evan James (Reidun Ellingsen) Andriopoulos of Jessheim, Norway; along with nine grandchildren: Janie D’Angelo (Anthony), Evan Spera (Shannon), Nathaniel Andriopoulos, William Andriopoulos, Kyra Cox, Derek Cox (Amanda), Erich Poirier, Michael Griskewicz, and Christopher Jones; and several great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at a later date to celebrate her life