Therese Marie Oakar

Therese Marie Oakar (née McCarthy), age 87, of Cleveland, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2025. Born on April 18, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio, Therese attended St. Ignatius Grade School and St. Stephen High School, earned an associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College, and, later in life, a bachelor's degree in Human Services from Baldwin Wallace College (now Baldwin Wallace University).
Proud of her Irish roots, Therese began her working life as a teenager, serving as an assistant in a bakery. After high school, she worked as a receptionist and switchboard operator at Caby Trucking Company. Following her time at Caby, she was an executive secretary at Modern Tool and Die. She began pursuing her real estate license, but ultimately chose to focus on raising her three daughters, a role she poured herself into with devotion and love. She approached motherhood with a quiet strength that anchored her family through every stage of life. She often served as a room parent and school volunteer, and was a constant, unconditional source of support, always tuned in to her children's lives and passions.
Therese was a natural athlete, playing baseball and other sports growing up and loving to bowl in adulthood. Bowling would prove an important part of her life, as it was at a bowling alley that she met her husband, Larry. They were married for 58 years.
Therese was a skilled and creative sewer, known for her beautifully hand-crafted Halloween costumes for her daughters. Her creativity, attention to detail, and care for others extended well beyond her family, though. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels and sewed for the Lutheran Home and SewForBaby, stitching blankets, clothing, and toys for mothers and children in need across Cleveland.
Elegant and warm, Therese had a way of lighting up a room without needing to raise her voice. She had an unassuming and magnetic charm that made everyone feel welcome in her home. She loved walking, practiced yoga and tai chi long before they were mainstream, and was always up for a challenging workout. A lover of music of all genres, she always had the radio playing and found beauty in life's ordinary moments, from an airplane flying overhead to the radiance of the moon and the stars. She had a gift for making holidays feel magical, baking recipes passed down through generations and meticulously decorating her home.
Therese is survived by her beloved daughters Michelle Adams (Douglas), Margaret Oakar, and Catherine Oakar (Brian Dybicz), and by her grandson, Dylan Oakar Dybicz. She is also survived by her cherished sister, Rose "Pug" McCarthy. She was a loving aunt, cousin, and friend to many. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rose Ann and John Norbert McCarthy; her husband Larry; her sister Sharon Rees (Glenn, deceased); and her brother William McCarthy (Mary).
Therese's grace, wit, and warmth will be deeply missed and forever remembered by those who were fortunate enough to know and love her. While Therese was devoted to taking care of her husband and daughters throughout her life, the family would like to share a special thank you to her incredible care team from Senior Concierge Services for their devotion to her care. Another special thank you to her team from Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 24 at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church, 20970 Lorain Road, Fairview Park. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. FRIENDS MAY CALL IN THE McGORRAY-HANNA FUNERAL HOME OF WESTLAKE, 25620 CENTER RIDGE ROAD (west of Columbia Road) ON THURSDAY FROM 4-7 P.M. Donations can be made to the Poor Clare Nuns, 3501 Rocky River Dr., Cleveland, OH 44111.
The family would appreciate stories being shared on the Tribute Wall at mcgorray-hanna.com