Teresa Bridget Mangan

It is with heartfelt sadness that we share that our beloved mother, Teresa Bridget McCormack Mangan, passed peacefully on February 24, 2025, surrounded by her family and at the impressive age of 96. We are comforted to know that she is now in heaven with our father, Patrick Mangan and sister Kathleen Mangan Hammond.

Teresa was born on January 15, 1929, to Michael McCormack and Norah O’Malley McCormack in Tiernaur, County Mayo, Ireland. The third of seven sisters and one brother, she grew up in a loving Irish Catholic home, filled with hard work, music, poetry, dancing, laughter and prayer. At the age of seven, she was selected as a member of a step-dancing troupe that performed throughout the county. Her love of dancing continued throughout her life.

In 1955, while working in Keel, Achill Island, Ireland, she met her future husband and the love of her life, Patrick “Sonny” Mangan, who was also born and raised in Ireland. He had emigrated to Montana in 1940 and was home visiting family in Ireland. The following year, they married in New Jersey and took the train across the country to Missoula, Montana. The couple had four children and made several trips back to Ireland with the family. When Pat retired in 1982, the couple spent winters in Yuma, Arizona. In Yuma, Pat and Teresa held annual St. Patrick’s Day parties for up to 75 friends, where Teresa made corn beef and Irish coffee for all and entertained friends with Irish step dancing.

Teresa was lovingly known as “Mother Teresa” for her kindness, thoughtfulness and devotion to the Blessed Mother. She loved to bake, sew, knit and read. She drew the plans to the family home that Pat built on Mullan Road. She was completely devoted to her family, showered us with unconditional love and helped us navigate through life. Her granddaughter Kara was the light of her life. 

Teresa is proceeded in death by her husband Patrick Mangan and daughter Kathleen (Phil and step-daughter Rachel) Hammond, along with her six sisters: Mary Staunton, Kathleen Moran, Annie Chambers, Patsy McCormack, Josephine Wainwright, Margaret Mary McCormack and brother Michael Patrick McCormack, in addition to many brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, including Annie Mangan Dever, whom she considered her seventh sister. She is survived by children Tony (Kathy) Mangan, Noreen McCormack, Patsy Mangan and granddaughter Kara (Carter) Albrecht.

The Mangan children are deeply grateful to our amazing niece Kara, who cared for mom during her final months. The family wishes to thank Dr. Michael Caldwell and Janine; Dave Field and the devoted staff at St. John’s; and Stillwater Hospice.

We love and miss you, our precious mother and grandmother. May your gentle soul rest in peace and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

A Rosary service will be held at 6:00 p.m., Monday, March 17, 2025 at Garden City Funeral Home. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church followed by a reception at Fr. Reidy Hall. In lieu of flowers, please keep Teresa in your prayers.