Teresa M. Bridwell

Teresa M. Bridwell, age 95, passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Agrace Hospice Center in Madison, WI, with her family by her side.  Teresa was born on December 14, 1927, in Hartford, WI, the youngest of seven children born to Paul and Mary Thorn.  She lived in Hartford for most of her youth, until she moved to Chicago with her sisters during her teens.  After high school, Teresa attended and graduated from the St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Chicago in 1949. She married Harry M. Bridwell in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day 1950. The couple settled in Madison, WI where they raised six children:  Mary, John, Meg, Michael, Charles, and Cathy. Teresa worked as a nurse for several years at the University Hospital in Madison.  She took time off to raise her family and eventually returned to work as the secretary for the family business. Teresa later returned to nursing briefly before retiring. Teresa loved to bake treats and desserts for her family, a trait that was passed on from her mother Mary and her siblings Marie and William.  She also enjoyed sewing and in her later years made many beautiful quilts which she gifted to her children and grandchildren.

Teresa was preceded in death by her husband Harry, her parents, Paul and Mary Thorn, and her in-laws Harry Sr. and Minerva Bridwell.  She was also preceded in death by her siblings:  William (Ann), Marie (Joe), Helen (George), Anna, Frances (Henry), and Paul (Josephine).Teresa is survived by her children: Mary (Dick) Kingston, John (Jean) Bridwell, Meg Bridwell, Michael (Karen) Bridwell, Charles Bridwell, and Cathy (Rick) Schmale; her grandchildren: Brett and Kyle (Katie) Kingston, Matthew Whitmer, James (Emily) and Sean (Janel) Bridwell, Michelle (Nick) Meier, Jeff, Joe (Hannah), and Steven Bridwell, and Josh (Tiana) and Dan (Crystal) Schmale; and great grandchildren: Sienna and Rosalynn Meier, and Jonathan Bridwell. She is further survived by many nieces and nephews.

Teresa’s family is grateful for the wonderful care and support provided by Four Winds Lodge of Verona, where Teresa resided for many years. Her family is also grateful for the care and support Teresa received in her final days at UW Hospital and Agrace Hospice.

A funeral mass will be held at BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH, 2121 Rowley Ave., Madison, WI, on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.  Visitation will be held at Blessed Sacrament one hour prior to the mass.