Teresa Erin Sodon's Obituary
Teresa Sodon passed away peacefully on December 14, 2024 at home, surrounded by family after courageously confronting brain cancer. Teresa was born in Tacoma, Washington to John and Liz Murphy on September 14, 1972. The oldest of six, Teresa dedicated her life to caring for her family and bending rules.
From childhood, Teresa knew it was her calling to make the world a more beautiful place. Teresa’s Barbies had unique hairstyles of her own design, and Teresa’s mom only had to pay for ‘edits’ to her sister’s hair a few times. Teresa channeled her passion for beauty into a career as a hairstylist. When Teresa’s clients sat in her chair, Teresa knew just what they, and their hair, needed. Outside of the salon, Teresa beautified the world. She planted and tended to a stunning garden, fit for entertainment. She loved to cook delicious and plentiful meals for her friends and family with a goofy comedy playing in the background.
Teresa met her match in Mike, and married him in 1997. Together they raised triplets, Parker, Brody, and Clara.
Teresa was a force. Her love for her family and friends permeated every thing she did. Teresa showed her love by inviting you to dance with her in the kitchen and turning the music up if any one complained, exclaiming “If it's too loud, you're too old!” Teresa’s favorite place was floating on a lake, with the sun on her face, and a drink in her hand, telling funny stories while creating new ones. She loved to ‘cause mischief,’ which was usually code for buying new plants or starting another home improvement project. Teresa believed that rules did not apply to her. She swam at night, dressed only in the darkness. She was fluent in four letter words. She picked people up from the airport in hilarious costumes, snuck her puppy into the grocery store down the front of her sweatshirt, and took clippings of plants from nurseries on several occasions.
She was infuriatingly good at everything she did (with the notable exception of baking cookies - likely because there were too many rules involved). Her wealth of useless knowledge made her the ideal trivia teammate, and her competitive spirit made her a formidable opponent. Teresa believed that you should go big or go home. Teresa loved to travel when she could. She kissed the Blarney stone, visited 8 countries, and dipped her toes into 6 oceans and seas. Teresa had a heart for service and designed three trees for the Mary Bridge Festival of trees, raising a total of $25,000 for the Children’s hospital.
Teresa’s ‘go big’ philosophy and resilience made her an incredible mother. It was Teresa’s lifelong dream to start a family, but this dream was complicated by a medical syndrome that made her unable to carry her own children. Through developing IVF technology and surrogacy, Teresa and Mike realized their dream. The triplets were Teresa’s priority. She worked her schedule around making sure she was at every school event, cheering loudly. Teresa made all of the triplets’ Halloween costumes by hand, moved all three kids into separate colleges the same year, and baked three elaborate cakes every year on their birthday. Teresa was incredible at many things, but she was best at being a mother.
Teresa joins her father, John, and dog, Maizy. She is survived by too many to list.
Please join us for a service in her honor January 10th at 1pm at the Valley Chapel at Mountain View Funeral Home, 4100 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Tacoma, WA 98499. Afterwards, we will celebrate Teresa at the Fircrest Rec Center. Please look to Facebook or MealTrain for more details.
Flowers are welcome, or in lieu of flowers, please make donations to Cancer Concierge or DAHLIA Living. Teresa was grateful to have a strong network of friends and family supporting her during treatment, and these organizations’ missions were close to her heart.
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