Theresa Croteau

Theresa (Foley) Croteau, 66, Hubbardston, MA, passed away on March 10, 2026, after a hard-fought battle with Huntington’s Disease.

Theresa was born in Norfolk, Virginia, to the late John A. and Kathleen E. (O'Rourke) Foley.

She grew up with her seven siblings living in Tennessee, Florida, Washington, Maryland, and California before settling in Ashburnham during high school. She graduated from Oakmont Regional High School in 1977 and went on to study Medical Technology at Fitchburg State College.

After graduating with a BS in Medical Science, she started her career as a lab technologist. Her leadership skills and professionalism had her quickly moving up the career ladder to a management role. She was very proud to have her accomplishments recognized by the Joint Commission. She later brought real-world experience into the classroom as an adjunct professor teaching future Medical Technologists at Fitchburg State College.

Theresa loved her husband, family, playing board games, being at the beach, reading a good book, and sharing great food and music with friends.

She honed her competitive gaming skills during her youth by regularly trouncing her siblings playing any board game that could handle lots of players. Later, she would challenge anyone to try to best her at Scrabble. We're pretty sure she had the official word dictionary memorized.

Theresa loved being with her family, and she loved the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As her health was starting to fail, she planned a beach week for the extended family. We had the twelve-bedroom beach house overflowing and made many beautiful memories seeing the wild horses and sharing great meals together.

Theresa had a large group of friends that she shared her life with. Highlights were vacations to Sebago, Fort Myers, and the Outer Banks, and her private James Montgomery concert for her 50th birthday. Later, she loved being driven in a convertible and visiting friends and family. Every free moment was spent making the rounds.

Theresa was a very loving and generous wife, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great aunt, and friend. She is survived by her dedicated caregiver and husband of 43 years, Bryan, who stood by her through the cruel progression of this disease, providing comfort and love to the very end. Additionally, she leaves her brother Brendan Foley(Lumania) and three sisters: Eleanor M. Lashua, Anne Foley(David Briggs), and Barbara Kowalski(John), many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and great nephews, all of whom she adored. Also, her college besties Noreen and Marya who she shared a lifetime of adventures with.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, family, friends, and all whose lives she touched.

She was predeceased by her parents, John and Kathleen Foley, two brothers, Hugh and Daniel Foley, one sister, Bridgett Foley, one nephew, one great niece, and one great nephew.

We are profoundly grateful to Susan Stellato from Guardian Angels Senior Services for her dedicated, loving care. She and the whole team at Notre Dame Hospice, along with Kerri from Aging Services of North Central MA, allowed Theresa to remain comfortably at home.

A Celebration of Life will be held on March 22nd, 2026, at the VFW in Westminster, 3 Eaton St., MA, from 1 to 5 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Huntington’s Disease Society of America, 505 Eighth Ave., Suite 1402, New York, NY 10018, or by visiting www.hdsa.org.