Theresa Marcis

Theresa Marlene Marcis was born in Orange County, California on February 25, 1963. She grew up in both Orange County and New Hampshire where she lived from the age of 8 until she was 15. She moved to Chico, CA in 1981 to attend college, and graduated with an undergraduate degree in English, and later a Masters Degree in Creative Writing. She was a member of the Chico Peace and Justice Board of Directors, the Butte Environmental Council Board of Directors and taught English and Creative Writing at Butte and Shasta Community Colleges. She was a frequent leader of Sierra Club hiking and backpacking trips. She lived in Japan for almost four years teaching English. She spoke Japanese and still has friends in that country. She recently founded a Chico women's hiking group. She enjoyed foreign travel, bicycling, yoga, and backpacking in the California Coast Range and in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her passions were all things that would fairly and justly benefit this earth and her people. She shared a beautiful home with her mother and was a proud Chapmantown home owner. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago, and maintained a hope-filled, spiritually focused response to the disease the second time around. She helped lead women's writing groups for breast cancer support. She is survived by her mother, Laura Brent Marcis; her aunts, Josephine Brent, Susy Drissel, and Marie Guerrero; her uncles, Agustin Brent, Bill Brent and Wilburt Brent; her brother, Christopher Marcis; and many cousins. She was preceded into death by her father, Edward Marcis. She is also survived by her life-time best friend, Beth Griffin of New Hampshire, and many other friends. A group of approximately 40 people helped to care for Theresa since early December, and may the dedication of Ann and Ken Logan and Hugh Kern stand to represent the love and hope of the group of her caregivers. Theresa's body succumbed to cancer on March 21, 2009. Donations in her honor can be made to the Chico Peace and Justice Center. Visitation will be held in the Chapel of the Brusie Funeral Home from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2009, followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of the Resurection will be held Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 12 Noon at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Chico.