Therese Elizabeth Poirier (née Thelen)
March 11, 2025
POIRIER (née Thelen), Therese Elizabeth winged her flight to the Abha Kingdom, surrounded by her children, on Tuesday March 11th, 2025 at 1:19 a.m., at University Hospital in London, Ontario, at the age of 85. Beloved wife of 55 years to Jules Leo Poirier, loving mother of Céline Wolf (Dan), André (Nazanin), beloved grandmother of Rosie, Mehdi and Vafa. Predeceased by parents Anna and Joseph, brothers Paul, Leon, Gerome, Alvin, Donald; by sisters Betty, Doris and Marie; and by her beloved granddaughter Golbahar.
Working on her autobiography until her last months and weeks, she hoped to share how the principle of the equality of women and men had an impact on her own life and how important it is to world peace. The working manuscript contains over 27 chapters chronicling her varied experiences, growing up in a farming community, searching for God in her Catholic faith and beyond it, and eventually the promotion of the oneness of mankind through the Bahá’í Faith. It is an exploration of a lifelong commitment to finding emotional balance and mental health, culminating in her most recent experiences with Compassionate Inquiry. In striving to serve all humanity she left her mark in China, Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Guatemala, as well as her home communities in Ontario and Michigan. She is survived by a great diversity of friends of different faiths and cultural backgrounds that she has nurtured for decades with her husband Jules.
Funeral service will be conducted at Westview Funeral Chapel, 709 Wonderland Road North, London on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 12:00 p.m., with visitation one hour prior. A livestream of the service will be available for those unable to attend in person.
To register for the livestream, please click here: Remembering Therese
Interment afterwards at Woodland Cemetery, 493 Springbank Drive, London, with reception at Westview to commence after the interment.
Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Terry are asked to consider a charity of their choice and consider acts of service to their community in her name.
Leave a tribute for Therese Elizabeth Poirier (née Thelen)
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Terry had a wonderful spirit and shared her views generously and fearlessly. She is unforgettable and we will miss her dearly. Our heartfelt condolences to her beautiful family.
Mes plus chaleureuses sympathies à toute la famille. J'ai rencontré la famille Poirier en 1988 quand je suis venue de Québec pour vivre à Toronto pour 25 ans. Parmi les premiers ami-es Francophones à Toronto. Surtout je suis encore amie avec Céline. Je gardes un bon souvenir de ta mère. Chanceuse que tu l'as vue avant son départ. Ma mère était inconsciente quand mon frère m'a appelée à mon travail, et je suis me rendue au CHSLD. J'étais quand même avec là quand elle est partie dans l'autre monde. Ce que je n'ai pas fait avec mon père puisque qu'il a quitté notre monde à 6:00 am. J'étais avec lui la veille. Bon courage pendant cette période difficile. Avec amour, Suzanne.
Services for Therese Elizabeth Poirier (née Thelen)
Visitation will be held at:
Westview Funeral Chapel
709 Wonderland Road North,
London, Ontario
March 17, 2025 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Funeral Services will be held at:
Westview Funeral Chapel
709 Wonderland Road North,
London, Ontario
March 17, 2025 12:00 pm
Interment will be held at:
Woodland Cemetery
493 Springbank Drive,
London, Ontario
March 17, 2025 2:00 pm
Reception will be held at:
Westview Funeral Chapel
709 Wonderland Road North,
London, Ontario
March 17, 2025 3:30 pm
To the Poirier family, our deepest condolences to all of you on the passing of Terry. She was a dedicated servant of Bahá'u'lláh, always searching for deeper ways to serve. With much love.
~ Dorothy and Louis Robinson