Obituary of Teresa Wiedemann
Teresa Wiedemann (Tagliaferri), a loving wife, devoted mother and true friend passed away peacefully at home on December 11, 2022 surrounded by her family. She was 83 years old. Teresa was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years Norman, father August “Gus” Tagliaferri, mother Mildred (Hoehn), brother Ralph, daughter Angela Wiedemann-Trissell (2017) and granddaughter Lauren Burglund (2007).
She was born in San Francisco and moved to Santa Cruz when she was seven-years old. Her family moved to Live Oak where she attended Live Oak Elementary School and graduated from Holy Cross High in 1958. She attended Monterey Community College and San Francisco State.
In 1958, Teresa met Norman while both were working on the Santa Cruz Wharf. They were married at Holy Cross Church on February 6, 1960. The couple built a home in 1961 on a portion of her parent’s chicken ranch in Live Oak; raising all five of their children in that home. Teresa lived on the same street for 76 years and remained in that same house until the time of her passing.
Teresa won the Santa Cruz County High School Driver Competition (Girls Division) in 1957. She became a School Bus Driver and Transportation Director for Live Oak School District. She later became a bus driver instructor, licensed by the CHP and instructed hundreds of new school bus driver throughout the bay area. Teresa was instrumental in organizing the California School Bus Drivers Rodeo for over 20 years She retired in 2003, after 38 years of service.
Teresa was always active in the community; She was in 4-H, athletics and many other social organizations as a student. She was elected as a Schoolboard Member for Live Oak School district and active in the PTA as her 5 children attended school. She established a woman’s and girls softball league that lasted for decades at Del Mar Middle school. She played in the woman’s league, coached her daughters teams and won many championships over the years.
Teresa and Norman traveled the County in a custom built and colorfully painted motorhome for 25 years. In 2000, they purchased a new motorhome and enjoyed 18 years of additional traveling. One of Teresa’s favorite past times was fishing; she would head out in the 40-foot motorhome to fish where the fish were biting; she caught many striped bass at San Luis Dam, trout at lake McSwain and salmon on the Rouge river. Her fish stories were verified by her best friends, Trudy Locatelli and Judy Evans.
Affectionately known as “Tree” she will always be remembered for her cooking; a self-taught cook, she became a chef and enjoyed cooking all types of food, especially from her Italian heritage. She cooked many unique foods that often-brought laughter to the dinner table; such as bull testicles with a side of “great balls of fire” dipping sauce. That example should explain her sense of humor. Whether a celebration or the death of loved one, Tree found comfort in the kitchen and always cooked to excess, the Italian way. The family will miss our delicious Sunday dinners and Trees life stories.
Teresa love her grandchildren and was known as Grams. She and her friends would load up the grandkids in the motor home and head for the hills every year. Grams and Trudy would spoil the kids on vacation and provided a lifetime of stories by all.
Teresa is survived by her son Augie (Sue) of Santa Clara; son-in-law Phil Trissell of Watsonville; daughters: Catherine Frost (Neal) of Hollister; Gilda Foran (Larry) of Florida; Mary Touli (Ross) of San Jose; grandchildren: Katie, Meghan, Jessica, Amy, Justin, Sven, Mat, Max, Johnathon, Tanner; and great grandchildren: Cora, Emi Jacob, Jordon, Mikayla, Riley and Hudson.
The Celebration of Life for Teresa Ann Wiedemann will be on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel beginning at 10 a.m. She will be laid to rest private committal service alongside her beloved husband Norman, at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery.
