Teresa Mathews Theccanat's Obituary
Teresa Mathews Theccanat, 96, of Houston, Texas, passed away on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at home after a long illness.
Teresa was born in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa, December 5, 1928. She was the first-born and eldest daughter in the Africa Kurian Alapatt family. Her father worked with the Tanganika Railways for 25 years and later was a Sergeant in the British Military Mission. After the birth of Teresa, she and her mother left Tanzania and moved back to India while her father continued his work in Nairobi, Kenya, then Mogadiscio, Somalia, followed by Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before returning a few years later to rejoin his wife in their home state of Kerala, India.
In 1944 Teresa married Mathew Theccanat. In 1947 Teresa and Mathew left India for Nairobi, Kenya. After four years of marriage a son was born to them, Joseph. Sons Cyril, George and Stephen were to follow. Shortly after the birth of Stephen, Teresa interviewed for and landed a secretarial job at the United Nations in Ethiopia. Teresa soon had a succession of successful jobs beginning as a secretary and working her way up to a supervisory position as a Senior Bilingual Administrative Assistant at the UN. She remained in Ethiopia through the bloody and violent revolution in 1974 when the Marxist military took over and deposed the Emperor Haile Selassie. She retired in 1986 and returned to Kerala, India. Mathew died in 2003.
Teresa was deeply devoted to her faith as a Roman Catholic from the Knanaya community. She stated, “I am extremely proud to be a Knanaya. Many years ago, I wrote a small book so that my sons would be able to read and know the importance of being Knanayas.” She was very proud of her sons and their accomplishments and continued to lead an active life well into her 90s, maintaining her independence, learning Spanish, playing Bridge, attending church services, and participating in, as well as hosting, gatherings of both family and friends. After moving to the United States in her 80’s, she even managed to get her driver’s license and drove to church and grocery stores on a regular basis.
Teresa was preceded in death by her eldest son, Joseph; her husband, Mathew; as well as her sister, Baby. She is survived by her siblings, Francis Alapatt, Cyril Alapatt, and Josephine Neicheril; her sons, Cyril, George and Stephen; as well as their spouses, Gigi, Jomol, and Lou; and three grandchildren, Nicholas, Matthew, and Maria Teresa; as well as Joseph’s spouse, Anne.
A viewing and visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 in the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway in Houston, Texas. A reception with the family will immediately follow the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Houston.
Teresa had a long and productive life, was devoted to the church and her family and was well loved by all. She will be deeply missed.
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