Theresa Bailey

Life is like an intricate rose and with the dawn of each new day, we can choose whether we see the beauty of the rose among the thorns. Those who knew Theresa Bailey would all agree that she not only saw the beauty of the rose each day, but that she in many ways became like the rose – a vibrant, captivating woman who brought such beauty to the world around her. Theresa was a skilled hairdresser, a loyal friend, and a fun-loving woman, yet there was nothing she cherished more than simply being a mom. The world is full of mothers, but there are few who fully grasp the enormity of the task as well as Theresa did. She leaves behind lessons in humility, compassion, and graceful strength that will remain forever near and dear to the hearts of the numerous people whose lives she touched, her bright light extinguished much too soon.

The sixties were a turbulent decade in America as our nation remained divided over the Vietnam War and the intensity of the civil rights movement fueled the assassination of Martin Luther King in the spring of 1968. The music scene was dominated by The Beatles and the Rolling Stones while fashion flirted with the mini skirt and the Big Mac was introduced to the nation. It was amidst this colorful year that Bob and Faye (Lutton) Holbrooks welcomed the birth of their daughter, Theresa, on September 7th. Theresa was one of three girls in her family. The Holbrooks girls were in many ways typical sisters who got along at times and had small quarrels, too, but they did care deeply for each other through it all. By the time the girls all got older and began establishing families of their own, they had become very close and shared countless experiences together that have become precious memories. Theresa’s father worked in skilled trades in the automobile industry while her mother had more than enough to keep her busy between her girls and their home. She attended schools in Livonia including Clarenceville High School where her years were abundantly filled with good friends and good times.

After graduating from high school, Theresa attended cosmetology school and became a licensed hairdresser. She worked in the beauty industry for several years where her bubbly and outgoing personality made her quite popular among her clients. During this time in her life, Theresa enjoyed living the single life, but that would soon change.

It was while attending a birthday party for a friend at the Beaver Creek bar in Westland that she met the man with whom she would write an eloquent love story. His name was David Bailey, and they just sat and talked for hours that night. Right then and there, David knew she was the one he wanted to spend his life with. A dating relationship ensued and after six months, David proposed. After a one-and-a-half year engagement, the couple was married in Livonia on September 25, 1998. Nothing could have made the couple happier than becoming parents to three wonderful children beginning with the birth of Jessica in 2000. Brandon followed in 2005 and with the birth of Emily in 2007, their family was complete.

From the moment Jessica was born, caring for her children became Theresa’s number one priority. She loved her children more than life itself and cherished each and every moment she had with them. Theresa shared a close relationship with her sister and certainly knew great love in her life, but nothing came close to that of hearing her children call her “mom.” She instilled within her children that both unconditional trust and love are the foundation of a good relationship.

When a job opportunity became available for her husband in 1999, the couple relocated to Western Michigan, and they remained there ever since. They initially settled in Kalamazoo, but later moved to Galesburg where they purchased a home out in the country. Theresa loved the quiet, tranquil lifestyle that came with living on the outskirts, and she especially liked to plan projects around the house. Many of her ideas and inspirations came from Home & Garden Television (HGTV), which always seemed to be on in her home. Christmas was a truly special time in Theresa’s home since her decorations were over the top. Her house was transformed into a Christmas wonderland as it was her greatest desire to make this time truly memorable for her husband and children.

Although much of her time was wrapped up in her family, Theresa did have a few other interests that she thoroughly enjoyed. Shortly after moving to the Kalamazoo area, she found work at Stryker. Theresa came to Stryker as a temporary employee through an agency, but she was a good fit for the company and was soon hired. She worked in several different office areas through the years with her most recent position being in the payroll department. Not surprisingly, her outgoing personality made her popular among her coworkers, many of whom became great friends. Theresa loved to have fun at the casino, but she was always able to stay within her means as someone who was rather level-headed and thought things through. It seemed as though lady luck was usually on her side, however, as she came home a winner more times than not.

Life would never be the same for Theresa and those who loved her when she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer shortly after the birth of Emily. This form of cancer is often aggressive and proved to be true in Theresa’s case as it spread throughout her body. Over the year and a half that followed, Theresa saw a variety of doctors and sought numerous treatments in hopes of seeing her children grow older. If recovery were based on will alone, Theresa would certainly have been victorious, but sadly, her body could not overcome the unrelenting enemy that waged war against it.

With what would seem to be so much of her life ahead of her, Theresa Bailey has been taken from those she loved. She was a true Virgo who planned everything she did and someone who had fun in everything she did. Theresa could be strong-willed and stubborn when it came to matters close to her heart, and she laced everything she did with love. She enjoyed many things, but it was easy to see that Theresa’s children were simply priceless to her. She will be deeply missed by so many.

Theresa Bailey died on Friday, October 1, 2010. Theresa’s family includes her husband David, 3 children: Jessica, Brandon and Emily, 2 sisters: Tracy (Brad) Kacskemeti and Tammy (Mike) Peterson, her in-laws: Fred and Bonnie Bailey, nieces Jamie and Ella, and a nephew Ryan. Theresa was preceded in death by her parents Bob and Faye Holbrooks.

Visit with Theresa’s family and friends and share light refreshments on Monday from 12:00- 8:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Portage, 5975 Lovers Lane (344-5600). A funeral will be held on Tuesday at 12 noon at the same location. Please visit Theresa’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory or photo or make a memorial contribution to the children's college fund.