Theresa M. Tully

SOUTH PORTLAND - Theresa M. Tully, formerly of Portland, died Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at the South Portland Nursing Home with her loving family by her side. She had recently celebrated her 97th birthday with her children and their families. Born in Biddeford, a daughter of Francis Xavier and Marie Louise Fournier Emond, she attended Presentation of Mary Preparatory School in Hudson, NH and graduated from Biddeford High School class of 1935. She continued her education at the Swinburne School of Household Arts in Newport, RI and took several courses in Advanced Accounting and Computer Studies at University of Southern Maine. Theresa began her working career at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in Biddeford and in 1941 she married Ralph L. Tully. After WW II, they established residence in the Portland area. In 1960, Theresa and her husband Ralph along with her sister Gertrude and her brother-in-law John P. Conroy, Sr. established the Conroy Funeral Home which became Conroy-Tully Funeral Home after her son Paul joined the company in 1971. In 1988 Theresa and her family opened a second funeral home in South Portland. She was extremely proud of being the 3rd generation in her family to serve the community in funeral service. She was involved in nearly every facet of the business for over 40 years. The business was sold in 2001. Theresa was a former communicant of Holy Cross Church; St. Dominic's Church and was a daily communicant of The Monastery of the Precious Blood. She was a member of the Secular Order of St. Francis, active in the Holy Cross Mothers Club and the Holy Cross Visitation Sodality, St. Dominic's Mothers Club, St. Joseph's Academy Mothers Club as well as the Cheverus Mothers Club. Theresa was a long time member of The Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, and active member of the Jimmy Fund during the 1950's and spent countless hours of work for the Nephrosis Foundation and helped to found the Kidney Foundation of Maine. After experiencing Macular Degeneration, Theresa became involved in the Iris Society of Maine and was nominated to its Board of Directors. Theresa was honored in 2001 by the Sisters of Mercy and received the Frances Warde recognition for her compassionate service and commitment to the Works of Mercy. Theresa was predeceased by her husband Ralph in 1990, to whom she had been married for 49 years, a son-in-law Robert E. Wallace in 2011, five sisters Isabelle Jones, Gertrude Conroy, Cecile Fecteau, Claire Grimaldi, Bernadette DesRoberts, and a brother John Emond. Additionally she was predeceased by a very close sister-in-law Alma G. Tully and longtime friends Jim and Jan Gibbons, George and Peg Pelletier and Steve and Barbara McDonough. They traveled and played cards together for many years. Survivors include a daughter, Mrs Robert (Louise) Wallace of Barrington Hills, IL; two sons Paul F. Tully and his wife Barbara from South Portland and Roger M. Tully and his wife Maria from Whippany, New Jersey; two sisters Florence Emond and Mrs Conrad (Frances) Boilard of Biddeford; eight grandchildren Katrine Wallace and Karen Herbert and her husband Paul of Chicago, IL, Paul F. Tully and his wife Kathleen of Anacortes, WA, Matthew Tully and his wife Heather and David Tully and his wife Rosemarie of Virginia, Jeffrey Tully and his wife Elizabeth and Kristen Tully of South Portland and Lauren Tully of Beverly, MA; ten great grandchildren Liam Donohoe,, Nora Herbert, Josie Herbert, Christopher Tully, Eileen Tully, Anne Tully, Michael Tully, Cooper Tully, Makenna Tully, Elianna Tully and many nieces and nephews and cousins. Visitation will be held from 3pm to 7pm Friday, June 28th at the Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A 10:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 29th at Holy Cross Church, corner of Cottage Rd. and Broadway, South Portland. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.If desired, donations in her memory may be made to:Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood166 State StreetPortland, ME 04101orPatient Activity FundSouth Portland Nursing Home42 Anthoine St.South Portland, ME 04106Online condolences may be expressed below.