Theresa "Terrye" Stewart

East Palestine - Theresa "Terrye" Stewart, affectionately known as “Miss Terrye” age 61, of East Palestine, passed away at home with her family by her side, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.

She was born on October 10, 1964, in Parma, OH, the daughter of the late Charles "Charlie" and Alice Tenczar Bark.

Terrye was a graduate of Boardman High School and received two master’s degrees from YSU in preschool special education and administration. Terrye worked as a teacher for a total of 32 years for various schools before finishing her career with Columbiana County Educational Service Center. She was a former member of Greenford Christian Church in the 80’s and 90’s where she volunteered as the coordinator of the children’s program, served as director of the children’s choir, and helped facilitate several other children’s music programs within the church. She was an advocate for children with special needs and she had an amazing ability to see the potential in every child no matter what limitations they may have had. Terrye loved crocheting, crafting, scrapbooking and vacationing with her family at Cape Cod. She really hated cooking but loved making homemade playdough. It’s safe to say that her students and her own grandchildren were her life. She absolutely loved children. She was blessed with ten grandchildren who were her pride and joy. Words can’t express how much she loved and enjoyed each and every one of them. Any extra time not spent at school or school related functions was spent with her grandchildren. She enjoyed taking them on one-on-one adventures and having weekly sleepovers. She was more than a grandma to each one of them. She is irreplaceable to all of them and will be deeply missed by the many lives she touched.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Jeffrey Stewart whom she married on May 25, 1985; her advocate and “pitbull”, daughter, Josalyn and husband, Steven Tigelman, whom she called “her promised son” of East Palestine; nine grandchildren, Caydene, Jilliauna, Tripp, Caleena, Jursiey, Clark, Troyal, J.J., and Bricker Tigelman. Also surviving are Justin and Zachary Bair whom she was a proud godmother to, and her close friend, and work wife, Lisa Miner.

Terrye was preceded in death by a brother, Charles "Chuck" A. Bark, III, and her grandbaby, Carlyn Tigelman.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Van Dyke-Swaney-Rettig Funeral Home, East Palestine.

Family and friends may view this obituary and send condolences at www.familycareservices.com