Teresa Drakos

Teresa Drakos of Missoula passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at her sister's home in Portland, Oregon, where she had been undergoing treatment for mesothelioma.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate Teresa's life with a wake on Friday, May 22, at Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway, from 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be Saturday, May 23, at 10 a.m. at Blessed Trinity Church, 1475 Eaton St.

Teresa lived by the words on a plaque she displayed in her home: "Live every moment, laugh every day and love beyond words."

She was born Teresa Copps on March 9, 1945, in Kadoka, South Dakota, the daughter of Dan and Etta Peterson Copps. The family later moved to Miles City, where they owned and operated the Ben Franklin store. Teresa loved working as a clerk and cashier at the store with her six siblings. She attended Sacred Heart Schools in Miles City, graduating in 1963.

After high school, she joined the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Aberdeen, South Dakota, and was a member of that community until 1968. She graduated from Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1969 with a degree in occupational therapy.

She married Jim Drakos on Aug. 22, 1970, and the pair ultimately settled in Missoula with their two children. The family enjoyed camping at area lakes and being in nature together. They were active in John XXIII Catholic Church and spent time with their extended families in the Missoula area and beyond.

In 1988, Teresa was reunited with her daughter, Tammy, whom she had given up for adoption at birth. She later was honored to be a part of Tammy's wedding.

She cared lovingly for Jim, who had Ataxia and became disabled. He passed away in 2006. She retired from Community Medical Center in 2007 as director of outpatient rehabilitation.

During her retirement, Teresa traveled extensively, visiting Spain, Alaska, Ireland and many other places. In her well-loved camper van, she spent a summer as a campground host at Moran State Park. She volunteered in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, for the American Red Cross in Missoula and provided meals for a YWCA support group. Her many friendships blossomed in retirement, and she delighted in going to movies, book club, traveling, attending classes and lectures and just generally being surrounded by supportive pals.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Etta Copps; sister and brother-in-law, Mary Etta and Oaklin Jay Hillner; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Joe and Darlene Drakos. She is survived by her daughters, Tammy Fenner of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Jamie Drakos of Portland, Oregon; son and daughter-in-law, Peter Drakos and Sarah Ayers of Seattle and Missoula; siblings and their spouses, DiAnn Copps and Jim Iverson of Willmar, Minnesota, Mike and Marty Copps of Broadus, Ed and Jana Copps of Billings, Gail Nottingham and Steve Wurz of Nathrop, Colorado, and Kay and Bob Balmer of Portland; sister-in-law, Cathy Drakos and her spouse Al Wells of Butte; six grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to YWCA, 1130 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802; National Ataxia Foundation, ataxia.org/giving; or Care Partners Hospice, 1600 N.W. Compton Drive, Suite 210, Beaverton, OR 97006-9913.
Read Teresa Drakos's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.