Teresa Ann "Terri" Lucca

Teresa Ann Lucca passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, November 2, 2025 surrounded by her family.
She was born July 13, 1949, in Littlefork, Minnesota to Livio and Irene (House) Lucca. She was the first born of ten children. She was followed by Francis, Mary, Mike, Jean, Tom, Patrick, Stephen, Patricia, and Lisa.
As a young girl she worked at the family grocery store while also helping with her younger siblings. She graduated from Falls High School in 1967 and then attended college at Bemidji State University to pursue her teaching degree.
Upon completion of her degree, she taught at St. Thomas school and then began her career at ISD 361 where she taught third grade and then moved to teaching special education which was a perfect fit for her.
After retirement from ISD 361, she was a long-term sub at the Indus school and served on the school board for several years. She was also a guardian ad litem for several years and volunteered as an advocate at Friends Against Abuse.
In August 1970, she married Gary Kjellgren and from that union was blessed with Anna and Sara. In 1989, she was blessed with Pamela Rud joining the family.
Teresa was strong, caring, and kind. She was a friend to everyone she met. It showed how much she meant to people by the outpouring of love and support that was shown in her final days.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gary; parents, Livio and Irene; brother, Stephen Lucca; nephew, Robert Shields; brothers-in-law; Gary Haggerty and Carl Schell; sisters-in-law, Sharon Schell and Carol Belanger; and mother and father-in-law, Irene and Mervin Kjellgren.
Teresa is survived by her daughters, Anna (Russell) Fisher, Sara (Corey) McEldowney, and Pam (Erron) Rud; grandchildren, Gary, Oliver, Sarah, Warren, Baleu, Keetan, Lennon, Owen, Dylan, Cora, and Kayla; great-grandchildren, Blaney, Jack, John Michael, Jesse, and Mary Jane; sisters, Francis (Bob) Shields, Mary Mulally, Jean (Dave) Skime, Patty Haggerty, and Lisa (Tom) West; brothers, Tom (Mary) Lucca, Mike (Jill) Lucca, and Patrick (Christina) Lucca; brother-in-law, Lynn Belanger; sister-in-law, Kim Lucca and several nieces, nephews, and all of her friends.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in International Falls, Minnesota. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Immediately following the service, a reception will be held at the Elks Lodge.
If so desired, memorials can be made to Zion Lutheran Church.