Teresa Anne (Karafotias) “Teri” DeStefano, 75, died on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Teri was born March 10, 1948 in Portland, Oregon, to the late James (“Jim”) and Pauline (Valerico) Karafotias. She married her husband of nearly 53 years, Peter (“Pete”) J. DeStefano on August 29, 1970.

Teri grew up in a loving and close-knit home, the eldest of two children. Her parents Jim and Pauline were proudly Greek and Italian respectively, and loved living in their Southeast Portland neighborhood surrounded by family and friends. Teri was especially close with her brother John. She greatly valued her family, becoming their memory and record keeper -  in her brother’s words, the  “keeper of the crap”.

Teri and Pete met through Teri’s brother John – John and Pete were playing touch football with mutual friends, and when Pete took John home afterward he and Teri struck up a conversation. They married several years later, soon after Pete returned from his service with the Marine Corps, including active duty service in Vietnam. They soon settled in the Westmoreland neighborhood, near to where they had both grown up, and only blocks from family and friends. They welcomed their son Paul in 1975, and quickly became a close family – they often thought of themselves as the “Three Musketeers”.

Teri lost her beloved father early – a grief that she always carried with her, but which brought she and her mother even closer. Teri, Pete, Pauline and Paul (named after Pauline) could often be seen “gita gita” (Italian for “out and about”), enjoying each other’s company. Teri was Pauline’s caregiver in her final years, and always spoke lovingly of “Nuni” (Paul’s name for his grandmother).

Teri had a lifelong passion for reading, literature, and libraries –  her first job was in a library, even before graduating from Cleveland High School in 1966. After attending Portland State University for one year she completed a degree in Dental Assisting at Portland Community College. Teri worked as a Dental Assistant for many years, becoming a stay at home mom once Paul was born. Both Teri and Pete were doting parents, and Teri enjoyed volunteering at Paul’s elementary school St Agatha Catholic School. As Paul got older Teri pursued a career as a librarian, first working for Portland Public Schools at the District Main Building, and later serving as the Librarian at Woodmere Elementary School, where she worked until her retirement.

She was a voracious reader and her favorites ranged from mystery series, to poetry, and nonfiction. She also had a special passion for children’s literature and generously gifted special books to her son, young family members, and friends throughout her life

Teri had an active and fulfilling social life. Among other passions, she was a member of several long standing book clubs (one of which has been meeting for over 20 years), handmade beautiful cards for family and friends, and loved attending the annual Portland Greek Festival. She enjoyed annual trips to Seattle to see family and support Pete and Paul when they rode over 200 miles in the Seattle to Portland (STP) bike ride – Teri was always their “chase car”, road support, and cheerleader.

Teri dearly loved the beach (she often remarked she was born under a water sign); she and Pete owned a home in Seaside with her brother John and his wife Theresa, and visited often. Teri was a generous and creative gift giver, always finding just the right thing for her family and friends. She was young at heart her entire life, and always enjoyed new films, technology, and especially anything that would allow her to live a “greener” life. She loved to garden and carefully tended roses and Daphne passed down from her mother – she and Pete always took pride in their beautiful yard.

Teri was beloved by all who knew her as a uniquely kind, loving, and intelligent person. The space in the world that her passing leaves will never be filled.

She is survived by her husband Peter J. DeStefano; her son and daughter-in-law Paul Robert DeStefano and Normandie Ludlam; brother and sister-in-law John and Theresa Karafotias; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Geri and Randy Adams; nieces and nephews Annmarie Wheelwright, Greg Adams, Tarr Karafotias, and Andreis Kennedy; great nieces Juniper and Maybelle Kennedy; a large extended family and many close friends.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers remembrances may be made  as contributions in her memory to the Oregon Food Bank (https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/), The Library Foundation of Washington County, Oregon (https://lfwcoregon.org/donation-options/), or The Library Foundation of Multnomah County (https://www.libraryfoundation.org/copy-of-make-a-gift).