Theresa Marie Ward

Theresa Marie Ward, 67, of Emmitsburg, MD passed away peacefully on Friday, December 27, 2024, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Born June 17, 1957, she was the daughter of Patricia Snow and the late John Turnbull. She was the loving wife of Thomas Ward, married in 2000 at St. Anthony’s in Emmitsburg.

 Theresa was active in the Frederick Catholic community while attending St. John the Evangelist, the Fort Detrick Chapel, and several other parishes in Frederick County. She was a member of the Secular Franciscans Order, and she led a St. John’s prayer group for 10+ years while also singing in the folk Mass choir.

She owned a cleaning company for 26 years called Elizabeth’s Helper, which she later renamed Cleaning Angels Extraordinaire. Like the biblical story of Elizabeth helping a pregnant Mary, Theresa saw her work as a prayer creating a transformation in homes and the lives of her employees and clients. 

Theresa always thought of others first, showing interest and concern for their wellbeing, even during her illness. As she fought her cancer, hospital nurses routinely called Theresa their “favorite patient.” While always focused on the life of Jesus Christ, she saw her suffering as the ultimate form of evangelization.  

Surviving in addition to her husband and mother are her sons, Phillip Kennedy and his wife Emily of Bristow, VA, and John Kennedy and wife Annie of Richmond, VA; grandchildren, William and Nathaniel Kennedy, Sophia and Anthony Kennedy; sisters, Julie Almy, Joan Carroll and Patricia Gonz and brother, John Turnbull. She was predeceased by her daughter, Therese Kennedy in 2017. 

A Mass of the Resurrection to celebrate Theresa’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 10, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church Emmitsburg, MD, with the Interment to follow in the New St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, January 9, 2025, at MYERS-DURBORAW FUNERAL HOME, 210 W. Main St., Emmitsburg, MD. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to her family’s fundraiser which will be used to cover funeral expenses. You can find the fundraiser by going to https://www.givesendgo.com/ and searching “Theresa Ward.”