Teia Ann Gunn

1980 - 2022

Teia Ann Gunn
Born: February 27, 1980
Died: December 24, 2022
Teia Ann Gunn, 42 of Oregon, IL passed away December 24th, 2022 in Orlando, Florida after a long battle with a Congenital Heart Defect and Stage 4 Congestive Heart Failure.
Teia was born on February 27th, 1980 to Lawrence and Patricia Frederick at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, IL. Teia passed away in Orlando, Florida surrounded by love in her last moments, by her Husband, 2 of her 3 daughters and 3 of her grandchildren.
Teia is survived by her husband of 19 years Dominick Gunn of Oregon, IL; Daughters: Hailey Frederick of Lanark, IL, Olivia Gunn of Putney, VT, Royal Gunn of Oregon, IL, chosen daughter Kelly Tan Christensen of Dekalb, IL; Nephew/chosen son: Jacob (Lexi) Gunn of Kileen, TX; 5 bonus grandchildren: Vincent Mendez, Anakin Odell, Ryan Buckley Jr, Kyrin Buckley, and Nevaeh Buckley; Father, Lawrence Frederick of Sterling IL; Mother, Patricia Schmeckel of Moline, IL; Brother, Ryan (Heather) Frederick of Marengo, IL; Sister, Karman Frederick of Dixon, IL; Chosen sisters: Brandy (Brian) Magallanes of Liberty, TN, Stephanie (Ken) Armstrong of Milledgeville, IL, Cindi Kozlowski of Wauzika, WI, Shirley (Curtis) Schuller of Oregon, IL; Cousin Natalie (Chris) Finley of Dekalb IL; Aunt Nancy Haag of Dekalb IL; Uncles: Kenny, Brad and Russ and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and chosen family. Teia was preceded in death by her grandparents: Merle and Dorothy Frederick and Woodrow and Erma Johnston; Her Aunt Lorie, Uncle Mike, Uncle Leo and Cousin Jeff.
At this point is where I am supposed to list her degrees and accomplishments. All those ordinary and mundane facts, as most measure life, success and accomplishments by the external and tangible. Often pieces of paper and numbers. Merits of service, degrees, money, looks, weight, volunteer services for show etc. While all those are stellar to measure your life against in a manner of aesthetics, they are ordinary and mundane. Teia was neither ordinary nor mundane, and definitely not living for aesthetics or applause from anyone. I read somewhere it is better to make your absence felt than your presence noticed. My wife was the embodiment of this saying. She was often in the background of others accomplishments or the one who showed up in their darkest moments seeking no recognition. My wife, my queen, my vanilla cupcake was the most beautiful woman in the world to me with the most beautiful soul and heart. Every inch, every curve, every dimple, every blemish, every imperfection, she was a true queen. To know her was to love her or hate her, there was no in between. She was not a person built to be palatable to the masses. She believed strongly in being real and honest. She was a fighter in the true sense of the word. She could back up what she said and she feared no one but God. Teia was a caregiver by nature, as her dream was to be a nurse and a mother. She loved children fiercely; her own, yours, everyone's. Teia prioritized the children in her life, she prioritized those who could never repay her and left a legacy that will live on with generations. Teia devoted her life to service that goes without recognition. She would open her heart and home to countless people throughout the years. She made herself a mother figure to more than just her own children, and she often stayed in the background of all of our accomplishments, even though she was the foundation of our family. Anything we were able to do in our lives was made possible by her self sacrifice. She did all of the grunt work and the dirty work. She pulled up, showed up and opened her heart, arms and home. Teia could be found in her kitchen cooking for her family, at her vanity with her jewelry and makeup dressing up, or in her chair cuddling a child or sometimes an adult who needed one of her hugs. Teia loved horror movies, horror stories, Halloween and all things spooky. She also loved the simple pleasures of life; being outdoors, animals, a good meal and time spent with family. Teia was athletic and spent a great deal of her childhood in competitive sports. She was good at it, but that is not where her passions lie. All she really wanted was to love life and have life love her back. For people to see past her weight, her sickness and limitations and to see through to the light that she brought to this world. She had expensive taste, as she liked things that made her feel fancy. She felt they gave her worth and made her less invisible in this cruel world. People would often comment on her jewelry, purses or shoes. This made her feel like she had some value in this life as she struggled to see her own value from the things she endured in her childhood and adult life. My wife was a large woman and the world is very unkind to people of size. Through the eyes and in the words of those who were blessed with her love and light, I know myself and was often told that when she smiled, she smiled with her eyes and they would sparkle. A fact those who really know her would know: everyone ends up in our bed with Teia. When she would take a nap or go lay down for the night, whoever was at our home would end up going in and laying on the bed talking with her. Pretty soon, everyone would be in there surrounding our bed talking. Teia was truly the light of our home, family and life. As is often said, kids and people do not come to our home to see me, they come to see Teia or TT as she was affectionately called. To understand the magic of this woman I will leave you with this story my mother in law told me; When Teia was a little girl she would sniff the presents under the tree and say she could smell Santa on them. Just this holiday season we drove thru a light display and they had a fake snow machine, she said how good it smelled. I asked her if it smelled like Santa. She flashed that smile and sparkle in her eyes and said, "Be quiet, leave me alone." Then as she sat wrapping gifts she said the gingerbread wrapping paper smelled like gingerbread. Rest In Heaven My Queen.
A Celebration of Life for Teia will be held
Saturday, January 14th 2023 from 1-4 PM at:
The Ritz Carlton Chicago, 160 E Pearson St
Chicago, Illinois
In lieu of flowers or donations we ask that you go out and love the fat people of your life the same way you love the thin people; without condition, without judgement, without reservation and without shame. What a different world we would have if no one sat alone emotionally eating food with tears streaming down their face doubting their worth because of something so silly as a number on a scale. In honor of my wife, to all the little girls out there being told what a woman should weigh, look like, act like, dress like, speak like and so on: drown out all that noise and take up space, take up all of the space and eat the cake straight from the pan with no fork and a giant smile on your face. Wear what you want. Be loud. Pull up a chair to every table. Belch, fart, say NO. Keep speaking if you weren't finished. Your existence on this earth is not to be an object, but to be a queen and rule because TT said its OK.