Bernice "Terry" Filewicz

Bernice “Terry” Filewicz, age 89, passed away peacefully at her Fountain Hills home on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016.

Born Jan. 14, 1927 in Chicago, Ill. to Ursula and Stanley Terevich, at age five Terry and her brother, Stanley, traveled to their mother’s home in Lithuania. They spent three years after her father’s death and then returned to Chicago. Terry was orphaned at age nine and raised by friends, Charlie and Catherine Gregait.

Terry met Gene Filewicz the evening before his entry into the U.S. Navy. Gene became her lifelong soul mate of 70 years in 1947.

She worked as a telephone supervisor for Illinois Bell until she became a devoted mother. In 1979 she returned to work for Chicago Motor Club.

Terry and Gene lived in the Chicago south suburbs until 1992 when they moved to Fountain Hills. Terry’s adventurous spirit never wavered. She loved visiting family and friends all over the country. She kept a special bond with childhood friend Joan McGraw.

Terry is cherished forever by husband, Gene; her four children and spouses, Linda (Bill Schultz) Mark (Susan Brozenec), Donna (Tom Featherstone), Carol (Tom Alt); her eight grandchildren, Ryan, Cassie (John), Brett (Shayne), Michael (Heather), Whitney, Logan, Kelsey, Brian and three nieces and nephews, Karen, Cheryl, Debbie and David.

We will continue Terry’s enthusiastic and humorous zest for life, love for family and generous disposition with her great-grandchildren, Adam, Nixon and Niko.

Visitation will be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Messinger Fountain Hills Mortuary. A funeral mass will be at Ascension Catholic Church in Fountain Hills on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at 10 a.m., followed by burial at Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery.