Teresa Ellen Sollis

Terri Sollis died peacefully and painlessly in her sleep at her home in Jacksonville. She was 76 years old. A native of New York City, she was the youngest of three daughters born to John Patrick Brennan and Margaret Foster. Her father was an Irish immigrant from County Sligo. He was a celebrated scholar/athlete at Fordham University and a New York City police officer. Terri's mother, Peg Brennan, was a native of Pittston, Pennsylvania.
After graduating from Bishop Reilly Diocesan High School in Jamaica, New York, Terri attended Queensborough Community College (City University of New York) in Bayside. Thereafter, she headed to Manhattan to begin her career as an administrative professional.
In 1972 she took a chance on a blind date arranged by the president of the management consulting firm where she was working. How could she say no? Little did she suspect that her date, a hotshot young second lieutenant home on leave from the U.S. Marine Corps, would become her husband. It happens.
Terri became Mrs. John B. Sollis on 21 July 1979. She and Jay were married in Washington, DC, where she was then serving as the administrative assistant to the President of Occidental International. Jay was a captain serving as an artillery battery commander in the Second Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. They began their married life in Jacksonville. Thus began a wonderful, romantic adventure of nearly 46 years.
Terri is remembered by her many friends and admirers as having been a very genuine, warm hearted, utterly unpretentious, loyal friend and delightful companion. With a gleam in her eye, she had a quick wit, a wicked sense of humor, and a perennially positive spirit. She enjoyed volunteer work, and was a proud member of the PEO (Philanthropic Educational Organization) sisterhood, dedicated to helping women around the world advance through education.
Terri is survived by her sister, Margaret Mary Houlihan and her family, of Easly, South Carolina, and her loving husband, Jay Sollis, of Jacksonville, North Carolina. She is sorely missed by everyone privileged to have known her.
Johnson Funeral Home of Jacksonville is honored to assist Terri's family during this most difficult time. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Teresa, please visit our floral store.