Teresa Loretta Cavan

Teresa (Terri) Cavan went home to be with the Lord on Sunday June 16, 2019. She was born January 12, 1932 in Perry Township near Mt. Horeb Wisconsin. Terri was the 10th of 12 children born to Albert and Mary Haag. Terri grew up on the family dairy farm where she learned to work hard and be resourceful. She graduated from Mt. Horeb High School in 1950.

After graduation, Terri went to work for a picture framing specialty shop on the square in Madison. She met Daniel, Dan Cavan, from Bly, Oregon; while he was stationed in Madison at Truax Field Airforce Base. Terri and Dan (Known to those in Oregon as Danny) were married February 4, 1961.They had three children Martin, Beth and Kathleen. Terri, Dan and family eventually settled in Madison, Wisconsin. They bought a house in a wonderful neighborhood on Groveland Terrace. The Cavan family lived there together until Dan died suddenly in December of 1979.  Terri remained in that home for over 50 years raising her children. Terri and her children made many wonderful and close lifelong friends during their time in that home.

After Dan’s death, Terri went from being a mother and homemaker to working up to three jobs at a time to make ends meet and provide for her family. Her main job was at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in the kitchen as a prep cook until her retirement. Terri moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon in 2017 to live with her daughter Kathy Baker and family. Terri lived out her life there with family and friends.

Terri was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother who loved caring for family, friends and guests. Terri was an avid Wisconsin Badger and Green Bay Packer fan.  Terri also found great joy in attending and enthusiastically supporting every game, sport or team that her grandchildren played on. Terri fought two brave battles with cancer. She was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in 2010. Determined to beat this dreaded disease, Terri vigorously fought and won that battle having been determined to be cancer free in late 2010. The disease eventually returned in the spring of 2019 and after a long hard fight it took her from us all. 

Terri’s strong faith in God along with her personal strength and determination was as much a part of her as was her caring and loving nature and her keen sense of humor. These qualities served as an inspiration to her family and many friends. Terri was preceded in death by her husband Dan, her parents Albert and Mary Haag, and her mother and father in-law Norah and Martin Cavan. She was also preceded in death by her brothers Wallace (Sonny), Art, Bill, Alban (Butch), Roman (Romie), and her sister Lenore (Lee) Weber; sisters-in-law Sheila (Cavan) Howard, and Ethel (Toots), Norma, and Emma Haag; and brothers-in-law Richard Howard, Carl Weber, Mike Handel, Joe Vagueiro and Richard (Dick) DePrey.

Terri is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Marty and Sheryl Cavan, her daughters and sons-in-law, Beth and Rod Hadley and Kathy and Danny Baker; grandchildren Mckenna Cavan, Riley Cavan, Lane (Acarey) Hadley, Katelyn Hadley, Charlie Baker, Erin Baker, and her step-grandchildren Brad (Holly) Hadley, Brandon (fiancé Erin) Hadley, Lacey (Greg) Burnett, Jesse (Roy) Torrero, AshLee (Rocky) Spivey, Danny (Kelley) Baker and (Someone as close as a Daughter to Terri) Cathy (Ed) Saunders and  adopted grandsons Mitchell and Michael. Terri is also survived by 13 great grandchildren.

There will be funeral Mass celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Monona, Wisconsin, on Saturday June 29th. The rosary will be at the church at 10:00 am and funeral mass at 11:00am with graveside services and luncheon to follow. There will also be a memorial service in Klamath Falls, Oregon with the date and time to be announced. Donations in memory of Terri can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or the charity of one’s choice