Tom and Judy Therrian were married 62 years. COVID-19 killed both of them in two days
Tom and Judy Therrian of Ellenton were married 62 years before dying of complications from COVID-19 within 48 hours of each other in April.
“Neither one of them could have lived without the other one,” said their son, Timothy Therrian.
Thomas Neal Therrian, 84, died at 8:11 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton He was born on Jan. 29, 1936, in Lansing, Mich., to Lawrence and Pearl (Cherry) Therrian.
Judith Ann Jensen Therrian, 80, died at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 20, also at Manatee Memorial Hospital. She was born on Sept. 12, 1939, in Lansing, Mich., to Walter and Edith (Webber) Jensen.
The longtime Lansing residents moved to Tidevue Estates in Ellenton fulltime in 2018, after being winter residents for many years. Mr. Therrian’s parents before him were also Bradenton residents, starting about 1970.
The family said the couple left the world together, as they would have wanted, after a short but courageous fight.
Tom and Judy were married on Sept. 28, 1957, in Lansing, after a courtship that began when Tom met his future wife while she was working behind a drug store soda fountain.
They enjoyed a long and immense love affair and were an inspiration to many with their deep love of family and friends, and of life and laughter, the family said.
Tom was a carpenter and, with his brothers, built many buildings in the Lansing and Grand Ledge area. He also worked in carpentry at Sparrow Hospital. His love of the trade extended into retirement, always helping friends and family with projects.
He was well-known as a great story teller and for his outgoing personality. He was a wonderful grandfather who loved to tell them many stories, and a favorite was about his dog, Pal. He was a softy who cried at the drop of a hat but was as strong as he was kind.
Judy was a homemaker while raising her children and later joined Sparrow Hospital in the food service department. She enjoyed golf, playing cards, crafting and cooking, her pastries were loved by her family. She shared her interests with her children, enjoying crafting and vintage shopping, and won several mother/son golf tournaments with Tim at the Grand Ledge Country Club.
Judy always had a twinkle in her eye and a laugh ended each sentence. Her greatest joy was her children and grandchildren and she loved them with all of her soul.
Tom and Judy were involved with Children’s Miracle Network through Sparrow Hospital and delivered toys to children and worked on the telethons.
The family said their retirement in Florida was idyllic. They golfed, loved their park and the neighbors of Tidevue Estates, where they participated in many social events.
“We have received so many cards from their neighbors in Tidevue Estates,” Sheila Therrian said. “Judy always helped organize the Tidevue bazaar. They enjoyed playing cards and bingo. He walked the park every day and had coffee every morning, until they stopped it in March because of the pandemic.”
While they enjoyed winters in Florida, their hearts were always in Lansing, with their family and friends, and their Michigan sports teams, particularly the Michigan State Spartans.
Surviving family includes a son, Timothy, and his wife, Sheila, Therrian of Garland, Texas; a daughter, Julie Therrian Covert of Lansing, Mich.; grandchildren, Kyle and his wife, Erin, Therrian, Lindsay Therrian, Adam and his wife, Jamie, Therrian, Ashleigh , and her husband, Chad, Althouse, and Frederick and his wife, Jessica, Covert; great-grandchildren, Henrik Therrian and Lucy Althouse.; and sister Susan Strickland.
They are also survived by many extended family and friends in Michigan, Florida and Texas. Every stranger they ever met became a friend.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Lawrence, Jr., Donald, and Robert Therrian, sister Nancy Therrian Burris and son-in-law Frederick Covert.
Judy was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Fredric, David, sister Carolyn, and son-in-law Frederick Covert.
Due to the recent events, services will be at a later date in Lansing. with formal announcement to follow.
“Their passing was particularly difficult for the family because they were out of state, but Tim Therrian noted even if they had been in the Bradenton area, access to healthcare facilities was tightly controlled because of the pandemic.
The family thanked the healthcare workers of Manatee Memorial Hospital for their tireless, caring services and complete dedication to their work during these difficult times.
Memorials in memory of Thomas and Judith Therrian can be made to Sparrow Hospital Foundation at www.sparrowfoundation.org/give, or Sparrow Foundation, 1322 E. Michigan Avenue Suite 204, Lansing, MI 48912.
Arrangements were by Griffith-Cline Funeral and Cremation Services.
This story was originally published May 9, 2020 at 1:18 PM.
