Teresita N. McKeown

Thursday, November 5, 2009

WILTON – Teresita N. “Tessie” McKeown, 71, of Wilton, died Nov. 2, 2009, at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston.

She was born in the Philippines on Oct. 15, 1938, a daughter of Carmen (Posadas) Nocos of California and the late Juliano Nocos.

Tessie was raised and educated in the Philippines. She graduated from Philippine Normal College and earned her Masters in education from Antioch College, Keene.

She lived in Milford and Wilton for more than 30 years and in Groveton, for a short time.

Tessie was employed as a school teacher in Amherst, at the Clark School and Wilkins Elementary School, having retired in 2004 after teaching for more than 30 years.

She was an avid rosarian and past president of the New Hampshire Rose Society, a member of the New England Rose Society, a consulting rosarian and judge. Tessie had an extensive rose garden with more than 400 rose bushes. She also enjoyed cooking, traveling throughout the United States, the Philippines and Europe. In addition, she loved exercising, especially Jazzercise.

Tessie had a zest for life and loved nothing more than spending time with her grandson.

She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church, Wilton and a member of the choir.

In addition to her mother, family members include her husband of 40 years, William J. McKeown of Wilton; a daughter and son-in-law, Loreta N. McKeown and Charles Lippman of Groton, Mass.; a grandson, William T. Lippman; three sisters, Ester Vitug, Brigida Reside and Elpidia Cabatbat; three brothers, Ruben Nocos and Juliano Nocos, Jr. all of the Bay Area of California and Juanito Nocos of the Philippines; many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours are Thursday, Nov. 5 from 5-8 p.m. in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, Maple Street, Wilton. Burial will be private in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, Mass. Donations in her memory may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for MDS/Leukemia, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445. Smith & Heald Funeral Home, Milford, is handling arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.