Teresa Arthur was a poet disguised as a high school chemistry teacher.

She was a wife, mother, sister, daughter, teacher and a friend to many people across the world. She was an excellent cook, a creative seamstress and crafter, a committed teacher, a gardener and a traveler - she loved exploring new places and experiences.

She was an extrovert who drew energy from people and loved to host gatherings at the home in Halifax which she shared with her husband, Robin, who survives her.

Robin and her children Esther, Aaron and Golda are devastated upon her passing. She is survived by them, and seven grandchildren: Liam, Elliot, Nathaniel, Gabriel, Evangeline, Edith and Agnes, who live in New York, Toronto and London respectively.

Teresa (Née Gomes) was born in Goa in 1953, the oldest of three daughters. As a child, she moved from Goa to Bombay, where she grew up with her sisters, Leela and Shirley, and their parents. Her mother is Olivia Gomes (93), and Teresa is predeceased by her father, Boaventura Gomes. Goa remained a beloved place for her, and she yearned for, and cooked the food that made her happiest - vindhalos and sausage and fish curries. Desserts were her all-time favorite and were never left off the menu.

Teresa met Robin while in college in Bombay, and the two were married in 1974. As a young family, they moved in the early eighties to Dubai, where they lived for almost 18 years before immigrating to Canada in 1996. Here in Halifax, Teresa and Robin put down roots and built a life ‘side-by-side’, creating a warm and welcoming home that opened the door to so many people, a home that made guests feel safe and loved, and where Mum fed your heart, and your belly in equal measure.

She taught for over 40 years, first at Dubai Gem School in Dubai, and then at Sacred Heart School in Halifax, and remained in touch with her friends and former students from both these schools even after retirement.

Teresa was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018 and survived that initial diagnosis. She put up an extraordinary fight through multiple crises, and lived another eight years with cancer, during which time she never gave up cooking and eating as her foodie heart desired. She travelled and visited friends and family; she quilted and crafted, took long walks and had long phone conversations with her friends, made podcasts and watched her favorite YouTube videos and never stopped being open to exploring what life had to offer.

In later years, she became very involved in the ovarian cancer community. Teresa was also a strong advocate for ovarian cancer patients like herself, and cancer research. She was a Patient Partner in Research with Ovarian Cancer Canada and was involved with the work of the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute in Halifax. Her own story with this disease was the subject of a podcast called Overlooked and was also covered by the CBC this year. She was in and out of hospital during this time and engaged in pleasant camaraderie with nurses in the chemo room and the gynecologic oncology ward.

Teresa is the author of two poetry books: Talking to Myself and The Cape and The Urn.

We’ll remember Teresa/ our Mum as a woman whose outlook and zest for life was extraordinary, a woman of courage and compassion, who was led by joy and wonder, unafraid of mostly everything, unwavering in her faith, and whose vibrant and indomitable spirit still guides us today.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Soul’s Harbour: http://soulsharbour.ca/.

Cremation has taken place under the care of T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, Beechville.