Obituary for Terrilyn Jean Congelli
HOPEWELL JUNCTION, NY - Terrilyn Jean Congelli, 73, an area resident since 2019, passed away on May 5, 2023. She previously lived in Windemere, FL from 2011-2019 and Medina, WA from 1981-2011.
Born in Bellingham, WA on July 9, 1949, Terri was the daughter of the late Norman Howard and Verle Iris (Handy) Bruland. She graduated from Easter Washington University with a degree in Elementary Education and from Whatcom County College with a degree in Business Management. She was employed for over 52 years in the home management industry. She also owned and operated a pre-school for over 32 years. Terri was an independent consultant and instructor providing educational instruction for expectant parents, and volunteered at shelters for battered women in both Seattle, WA and Orlando, FL.
Terri was instrumental in fundraising efforts for many schools over the years, including Sacred Heart, Forest Ridge, Seattle Preparatory, all in Washington, as well as St. Denis-St. Columba School in Hopewell Junction, NY. She was a parishioner at St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction, NY. She was active with the SIDS Foundation of Washington State and had served as the director for 4 years. She was a co-founder of Ballet Petit in Bellevue, WA which was a dance studio for children.
Terri touched many lives, and raised hundreds of children over the years as a daycare owner and nanny. She enjoyed going on vacation, taking walks on the beach, and exploring historical sites. More than anything, she loved spending time with her family, especially her husband, daughters, and grandchildren.
On July 22, 1978, she married the love of her life at the Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel at the Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island, WA. Her husband, Joseph James Congelli, Jr. survives at home after 45 years of marriage. Terri is also survived by her daughters, Nicola J. Potchatek and her husband James Alexander of Hopewell Junction, NY and Kelli L. Francis of Atlanta, GA; her grandchildren, Avery, Brody, and Bryce Stokosa, Kate Francis, and Keira and Jonah Brady; her brother, Steven Bruland; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, James and Elizabeth Congelli and Anita and Lawrence Drake; her nieces and nephews, Joelle and Rolando Aguilar, Raymond and Laureen Drake, Jason and Jennifer Drake, Erik and Jo-Anne Bruland, Andrew Bruland, and Katy and Jeff Olson; her uncle and aunt, Ronald and Jean Handy; her cousins, Clifford Bruland and Robert Bruland; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
In addition to her parents, Terri was also predeceased by her father-in-law, Joseph J. Congelli, Sr.; her mother-in-law, Dena Congelli; her sister-in-law, Barbara Bruland; her grandparents, Guri Ormseth-Bruland, RC Bruland, William Hand, and Iris Zock-Handy; and her great-grandmother, Augusta Wood.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 5th at 10 am at St. Denis Church, 604 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction, NY. A memorial service in Washington will be held at later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. Please visit Terri’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.
Born in Bellingham, WA on July 9, 1949, Terri was the daughter of the late Norman Howard and Verle Iris (Handy) Bruland. She graduated from Easter Washington University with a degree in Elementary Education and from Whatcom County College with a degree in Business Management. She was employed for over 52 years in the home management industry. She also owned and operated a pre-school for over 32 years. Terri was an independent consultant and instructor providing educational instruction for expectant parents, and volunteered at shelters for battered women in both Seattle, WA and Orlando, FL.
Terri was instrumental in fundraising efforts for many schools over the years, including Sacred Heart, Forest Ridge, Seattle Preparatory, all in Washington, as well as St. Denis-St. Columba School in Hopewell Junction, NY. She was a parishioner at St. Denis Church in Hopewell Junction, NY. She was active with the SIDS Foundation of Washington State and had served as the director for 4 years. She was a co-founder of Ballet Petit in Bellevue, WA which was a dance studio for children.
Terri touched many lives, and raised hundreds of children over the years as a daycare owner and nanny. She enjoyed going on vacation, taking walks on the beach, and exploring historical sites. More than anything, she loved spending time with her family, especially her husband, daughters, and grandchildren.
On July 22, 1978, she married the love of her life at the Our Lady of Good Voyage Chapel at the Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island, WA. Her husband, Joseph James Congelli, Jr. survives at home after 45 years of marriage. Terri is also survived by her daughters, Nicola J. Potchatek and her husband James Alexander of Hopewell Junction, NY and Kelli L. Francis of Atlanta, GA; her grandchildren, Avery, Brody, and Bryce Stokosa, Kate Francis, and Keira and Jonah Brady; her brother, Steven Bruland; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, James and Elizabeth Congelli and Anita and Lawrence Drake; her nieces and nephews, Joelle and Rolando Aguilar, Raymond and Laureen Drake, Jason and Jennifer Drake, Erik and Jo-Anne Bruland, Andrew Bruland, and Katy and Jeff Olson; her uncle and aunt, Ronald and Jean Handy; her cousins, Clifford Bruland and Robert Bruland; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.
In addition to her parents, Terri was also predeceased by her father-in-law, Joseph J. Congelli, Sr.; her mother-in-law, Dena Congelli; her sister-in-law, Barbara Bruland; her grandparents, Guri Ormseth-Bruland, RC Bruland, William Hand, and Iris Zock-Handy; and her great-grandmother, Augusta Wood.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 5th at 10 am at St. Denis Church, 604 Beekman Road, Hopewell Junction, NY. A memorial service in Washington will be held at later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc. Please visit Terri’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.