Theresa Van Harlinger – Nielsen

February 10, 1959 ~ October 14, 2021

Mother, Educator Entrepreneur

It's the middle of the afternoon. Theresa looks at the clock, for she knows it's about time for the children to return home from school. She places their snacks on the table so they can recharge before turning to their homework.

Theresa, a woman of culture, insisted that her children, daughter Dawn and son John Michael Nielsen, spoke Spanish and English, capturing their Puerto Rican roots. "She made me sit down every day to make sure I pronounced the words correctly," Dawn stated. "We would watch Novellas (Spanish Soaps) together and Spanish television. She would translate for me, but then she told me if I wanted to watch it... I need to learn it."

Theresa Van Harlinger was one of seven daughters born to Joseph Blaise Van Harlinger and Tomasa Jiménez in Saint Albans US Naval Hospital, Queens, New York. Growing up, Theresa was surrounded by an abundance of love from her family, including her two older sisters Jenny Lynn, Hedy Joyce, and later the family was complete when Debbie, Donna Josephine, and Wanda were born.

As time would have it, Theresa met and married a soldier. Her life became full of adventure and travel, being stationed all over the United States and Eastern Europe. She then became a mother of her own, giving birth to Dawn Marie and John Michael. Life can throw one unexpected curves and that marriage ended. Thresa had a passion for reading. She and her children would frequent the library. And they were read together as well as separately. As Mothers often do, she would teach them lessons of life and parenting.

When it came to working, Theresa was considered a Jack of all trades. She was a dental assistant for a while but loved fashion, makeup, and skincare. She then became an esthetician, and Entrepreneur with Business Choices, web site-Springs Skin Technology as a Business Management Graduate.

She studied hard and loved what she did.

She loved her grandchildren, Jordan Nielsen and Landon Emmons. She frequently shared valued parenting advice with Dawn and her brother. The family was important to Theresa she truly loved her nieces and nephews and all her sisters.

Theresa loved to laugh and tells jokes. Many times, she would entertain Dawn and John with stories, and they'd just laugh until we cried. Music was a love of Theresa's music of all varieties including Passionfruit, Mark Anthony, Guitarist Eric Frampton, selections from Jesus Christ Superstar, and Tommy. She also liked to watch the Rocky Horror Picture Show. She loved to go out dancing, and she would play her music in the house; she would dance and clean.

Theresa's stylist Ronnie Humphrey became one of her very best friends in life. And love resurfaced as she met her core friend Michelle Sunsoo.

There is a season for everyone. On October 14, 2021, Theresa's crossed the crystal river. There to meet her son John, her parents Joseph Blaise Van Harlinger and mother Tomasa Jiménez.

We can never love someone as much as we will miss them.

Theresa's life will echo in the lives of her daughter Dawn Marie, her beloved grandsons: Jordan and Landon, surviving sisters from youngest to eldest...Wanda, Deborah Ann, Josephine, Hedy Joyce, and Jenny Lynn. Plus, her amazing best core friend, Michael Sunsoo.

A Daughter's Promise