Teresa Marie Manriquez

Teresa Marie Manriquez passed away Sunday, June 29th, at the age of 65;  almost one year after being diagnosed with cancer.  She was surrounded by her daughters, son in law, and oldest brother. Teresa was born in Lakewood, California on February 13, 1960 to her parents Ernesto and Teresa Marrujo.  She was the youngest child of four and only daughter.

A devout Catholic, Teresa, was a lifelong parishioner of St. Pancratius. Teresa and her brothers also  graduated from St. Pancratius.  It is here that she met her former husband Frank, who she was married to for 13 years.

Teresa attended Cal State Long Beach where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies and teaching credential. In 1981, while in college, she married Frank Manriquez. They purchased their home on Allred St. which was located directly across from her parents and the house she grew up in. She lived on Allred St. her entire life. Teresa welcomed their twin daughters Beth and Amy in October of 1989 and youngest daughter Megan on June 19, 1992.

Upon graduating, Teresa began her teaching career in  the Bellflower Unified School District in the fall of 1984. She taught 41 years at Lindstrom Elementary School. Teaching was her true passion and she truly cared about each and every one of her students.  A very dedicated teacher, she arrived well before the school day started and stayed well after the students left. Her three daughters also attended Lindstrom.

Teresa was an exceptionally loving, kind, intelligent, inspiring, hardworking, selfless and beautiful person inside and out.  She loved her family more than anything and instilled in her children the importance of always being there for eachother.  She raised her three daughters as a single mom and worked so hard to provide them with the best life possible . After her divorce, Teresa went back to school to earn her Masters degree. She taught extra assignments such as summer school, before and afterschool tutoring, and adult school at night to ensure her daughters would never go without. A true example of selflessness, Teresa was an amazing daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and teacher.

Teresa loved being with her family including her three daughters, three grandchildren, son in law, brothers, and her nieces and nephews. She now joins her beloved parents and beautiful grandson Quincy.

She is survived by her daughters Beth and her husband Arnold, Amy, and Megan; her grandchildren Ernie, Gigi, and Arnie; and her brothers Michael, Gregory, and Christopher.

Mom fought so hard this year to get better and be here with her family. She will be deeply missed and forever in our hearts until we meet again.