Teri Jean Driscoll

TERI JEAN DRISCOLL (January 26, 1947-May 5, 2020)

Teri Jean Driscoll, 73, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2020 having bravely battled a rare and debilitating type of brain cancer.  She was born on January 26, 1947 in Tuxedo, New York to Edwin and Jean Starr.  Teri was raised in nearby Hillburn, NY and attended the Rockland County Schools.  She graduated from Suffern High School in 1964 where she was a Varsity baton twirler and socialite. Shortly after graduation, she began her career as a legal secretary working for the law firm that eventually became Balsamo, Byrne, Cipriani, and Ellsworth.  On October 31, 1970 Teri married Bruce Driscoll, with whom she had three children, Karen, Laurie, and Brian.  Teri put her career on hold and focused on raising her three children, spending many years as a full-time stay-at-home mother and dedicated volunteer to her childrens’ schools in Mahwah, New Jersey.  She coordinated many school fundraisers and held more than one position of office in the schools’ parent teacher associations.  In 1989, Teri returned to her career as a legal secretary. First returning part time, and then later becoming a full-time legal secretary at the law firm of McDonnell and Whitaker.  Teri worked at McDonnell and Whitaker until 2000, when she relocated to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren.  Once settled in North Carolina, Teri continued working as a legal secretary, most notably for Guy Oldaker III.  In 2007, Teri made a career change, and began working for Brookdale Senior Living as a Business Office Coordinator, first at Burlington Manor and later at High Point Place, from which she eventually retired.

Teri was a devoted grandmother, who would be quick to tell you about the happenings of all 7 of her grandchildren.  She will be remembered for her amazing apple pies, her homemade Italian sauce recipe, and her skills as a seamstress.  Teri was a rabid fan of college basketball, especially the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.  Her children will also tell you that she loved her “oldies” music, as she was a big fan of 101.1, an oldies station in New York.  She also adored her shih-tzu, Teddy, who was her faithful companion for the last ten years.  But most importantly, Teri had a big heart, with an unwavering loyalty to her children.  Teri is survived by her 3 children: daughters, Karen Gouge (Jerry), Laurie Sawyer (Scott), and son, Brian Driscoll (Amanda) and her loving, adoring grandchildren...Ryan Flicker, Brayden Gouge, Kiptyn Gouge, Owen Sawyer, Evan Sawyer, Henle Newton and Grey Driscoll.

The family would like to express their gratitude for the staff at Compass Healthcare and Rehabilitation of Hawfields and AuthoraCare Collective for their compassionate care for Teri over the course of her illness.

A private service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday morning at Lowe Funeral Home and Crematory and a crypt side service will follow at Forsyth Memorial Park in Winston Salem.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 8550 W Bryn Mawr Ave. Suite 550, Chicago, IL 60631.