Theresa Marie Pettus, 67, unexpectedly went to be with her Jesus from an arrhythmia on April 24, 2018 in Fortuna.

Theresa was born in Southern California on April 12, 1951 to Lloyd and Alice Costa. During her youth she spent every moment she could on the sunny, sandy shore of Huntington Beach. Oh, how she truly loved the ocean and its beaches.

Theresa leaves behind her husband Ronald Daniel Pettus; Daughter Paula Dawn Hilderbrand-Slater (Robert Slater); Grandchildren Krista Nicole Hilderbrand (Brandin Maxwell), Kendall Sanders, Braeden Daniel Pettus, Avana Belu-Pettus, Jordan Carnicello, and Bella Carnicello; Sisters Mary Alice Balestracci (Butch), Lorna Costa, and Lloydene Costa; Brother Mark Irvin Hunt; Sister-in-law Ann Pettus (Rick Riddle); Nieces and Nephews Penny Balestracci, Naydene Carnicello (Brian), Lea Newcombe (Mark), Jered Sperling (Cynthia), Jessica Kuyawa, Gabrielle “Brie” Hart, Alicia Scott (Robert), Robert A. Pettus, Laura Peterson (Bob), Cindy Estes (Rob), Rachael Guthrie (Heath), Beverly Leonard (Frank), Wesley Riddle, Wyatt Guthrie, Jordan Guthrie; as well as many other loving family members and life-long friends.

She is preceded in death by her son, Daniel Lawrence Pettus; Parents Alice Ramonia & Paul Hunt; Father Lloyd Stanley Costa; Grandparents Mary Elizabeth & Lawrence Irvin Day; Great-grandmother Hannah Elizabeth Houston-Riddle; Brother Charles Wesley Hunt; Nephews Antonio Lawrence Balestracci and Michael Espinosa-Hunt.

Theresa, also known as Grammy, truly loved life itself in every way. She was generously giving in so many ways, many times things you wanted or never knew you needed just appeared in your house. It was normal to open your cabinet and find a container of rice, or a unique sauce that you needed and never knew until the day you decided to make a new recipe that called for something special that she just happened to pick up for you. She always prepared for the unexpected with each shopping trip. It was just who she was — you could never change that about her, nor would you ever want to. She made everyone feel like they were extra special to her, and in actuality … they were. She had an amazing talent for finding lost things when you couldn’t, deeming her “Finder of all lost things.” No matter where you had dinner she always said, “Life is uncertain, eat dessert first.” She always knew that someday she would go to Heaven and “Sleep with the Lions and swim with the Dolphins.” She loved the Lord so much that she made sure we knew that, “To be Absent from the body is to be Present with the Lord.”

We look forward to the day we get to see her again. Heaven now has a new Angel with the tenacity of a lion, heart of gold, and a passion for the Lord.

She was a Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, and Friend. She was the center of this family.

A memorial to celebrate Theresa’s life will be held at Miller Funeral Home, 507 Scott St., Folsom, CA 95630.

It is our hope that we can all enjoy a lighthearted gathering with many fun stories and memories.

Reception to follow: Q’bole, 718 Sutter Street, Folsom, CA 95630 (old Gaslight Building). 

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Theresa Pettus’ family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.