January 31, 1958 – October 4, 2017

 

Terry Lee Gervelis was born in Youngstown, Ohio to Henry Irwin Bunshaft and Gloria Jean Shonberg.

 

She grew up helping her parents at their Tweed & Country store in Liberty Township, eating at Kravitz deli next door, and taking her friends to the JCC for a game of racquetball.  She attended Temple Anshe Emeth and High School at Villa Maria in Villa Maria, PA.    In the 1980s she moved to Kirkland, Washington with her then husband Gary Gervelis and their two children Stacy and Gabriel.   Her favorite title above all was “'mom'’.   She spent her days taking her kids to

numerous sports practices and piano lessons.   In between sports

schedules she found time for her adventurous self and went hang

gliding and learned to SCUBA dive.    She took to the water like a

fish and became a Dive Master and dive instructor.   She also

volunteered as a diver at the Seattle Aquarium to clean the tank

displays.   

​

Terry successfully fought cancer in the 90s, but that fight left her

with a damaged respiratory system. Despite limitations she traveled

to Germany and Italy with her son to visit her daughter who was

stationed overseas.   She also continued her career as a records

manager at several biotech/pharma companies.   After being

diagnosed with COPD she was listed on the lung transplant list.

Her main joys were spending time with her children, watching the

birds and hummingbirds fly outside, and cheering for the Seattle

Sounders and Seahwaks. 

 

 Finally, after two years of waiting, she received a double lung transplant.   Terry battled through numerous post-surgery complications in a manner that can only be described as extraordinary.   She continually amazed the hospital staff with her will to live and strength.   After a year of fighting to recover, her journey came to an end and she passed away peacefully at the University of Washington Medical Center surrounded by her children and her UW Family.   She is survived by her daughter Stacy, son Gabriel, and son-in-law Ryan.

 

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2017 at 3050 West Viewmont Way W, Seattle, WA 98199 from 4pm-10pm.   A Eulogy and sharing of memories will be at 6pm.   Hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be served throughout. Terry loved brightly colored clothes so if attending, please wear colorful items!! No black! If you are unable to attend, please feel free to send your memories of Terry to her children. Their contact info is listed on the contacts page.  Feel free to come and go anytime during the posted hours of the Celebration.

 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Harborview Mission of Caring Fund. This fund was instrumental in helping her receive the care she needed.   www.supportuwmedicine.org/terry-gervelis