Teresa Eugenia O'Brien

Teresa Eugenia O'Brien was born March 1, 1939 in Co. Roscommon, Ireland to Joseph & Gertrude (Corrigan) McHugh. She was the 2nd of 6 children and they lived on the family farm, at Enagh House in Croghan. She attended Marist Convent boarding school in Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Leitrim with her sisters, and the nuns there had a profound impact on her throughout her life. At age 21, she followed her sister Marie to London where she lived for 3 years. After a brief stint in Canada, she immigrated to the US and settled in Philadelphia. PA. She worked for Arlen Spectre as a paralegal where she met lifelong friend Lois Thompson. In Philadelphia she also met Robert B. O'Brien, a widower of 7 children, and they married in 1970. In 1974, they left PA and moved to Aiken, SC, where they opened "Teresa's Place", her first foray into restaurant ownership / entrepreneurship. In 1978, her husband (Bob) passed away and 5 weeks later her father also passed away. She was now widowed with 5 young children still at home. Despite the daunting circumstances, her deeply rooted faith in God provided the assurances she needed throughout her life. She always knew that God would not test her without giving her the strength and resolve she would need to succeed and provide for her family. She prayed constantly and taught her children to do the same. She began working nights and enrolled at USC-Aiken and quickly earned her degree in English Literature. She also earned her teaching credentials / certificates and moved the family to Augusta, GA where she became a High School English teacher. While living in Augusta, her friend and neighbor began dating (and later married) Kathleen Donohoe (Co Cavan), who would become another lifelong friend, supporter and confidant. It was in Augusta that 'Teasie' or
"Tree" (affectionate family nicknames from her childhood), would launch her career in real estate, becoming an agent for Century 21 and later, upon relocating to NC, for Caldwell Banker. She found a true calling and love for real estate helping families find not houses and neighborhoods, but homes and communities. She loved helping people navigate the process of moving from their past to their future and used her life lessons to guide and protect her clients, who almost always became her friends. In Winston-Salem, NC she opened "Celtic Café" with her son John and injected true Irish cuisine and culture straight into the heart of the town. Between her real estate connections and Celtic Café customers, her reputation was widespread, and she could hardly go anywhere without recognizing a face or being recognized herself. As her children grew up, moved away, she longed for the joy she felt having family around. It was no longer enough to have small holiday gatherings and so, after planning a series of family Christmases in Florida, she migrated to Palm Cost and then to Ormond Beach.
She passed on 10/24/25 at age 86. Her sister Kathleen "Kitsy" McHugh passed in 2002 and son, Matthew, after battling cancer in 2024. She is survived by her sisters Marie Walsh, Evelyn Boyd, Sheila Brown, brother James McHugh, as well as her children and step-children, Michael, Mark, Maureen, Patrick, Shawn, Mary (Jane), David, Brian and John and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Funeral mass will be at 11am on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at Basilca of St. Paul, Daytona Beach, FL.
Another service will be held in Ireland before her final internment in Co. Roscommon.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam"