Teresita (Te, Tere) C. Malmer, 28, of Ephrata passed away Friday, July 19, 2013 at her sister's home in Reading with her loving family was at her bedside.
Teresita fought a long and courageous battle with kidney disease and other related health issues.
Teresita was born Aug. 9, 1984, in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, to Miguel and Carmen Illas. She was the adopted daughter of Mark and Kim Malmer of Ephrata Township.
Tere spent her early childhood years in Reading. She moved to Ephrata in 1996 and attended the Ephrata Area Schools. She enjoyed participating in soccer, softball and volleyball. After completing her high school degree, she moved back to the Reading area, and then returned to Ephrata Township one year ago.
Te was last employed as a tax preparer for Jackson Hewitt in Reading. However, her true passion in life was singing, and she was following her dream of pursuing a career as a professional singer.
One of her favorite song passages gave her comfort in her difficult days: "I sing because I'm happy/I sing because I'm free/His eye is on the sparrow/and I know he watches me."
Teresita loved her dogs, having as many as four of them at one time. They were her babies, and at times caring for them was what kept her going. She unselfishly found new homes for them when she realized that she was unable to care for them anymore due to her illness, but they will always be in her heart.
She will be remembered fondly by her many friends and family for her selfless and compassionate attitude toward others, her straightforward honesty, her spunky personality, and her toughness in battling her lifelong major medical issues. She was always concerned for others, even when struggling mightily herself.
In addition to her parents, Teresita leaves behind her loving sisters: Maria, Millie (Gregg Lockhart) and Emily, all of Reading; Maribel of Robesonia; Shannah (Van Steel) of Pleasant View, Tenn.; Margeau (Carlos Cream) of Hummelstown and Haylay (David Young) of Reamstown; and her brothers: Alan (Kari), Isaac and Jerrad, all of Ephrata.
She was preceded in death by her brother Lucas (Laura), who died in January, 2013.
Teresita is also survived by nine nieces, 11 nephews, and many cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.
Funeral services for Teresita were held July 24 at St John's Lutheran Church in Reading with The Reverend Mary Wolfe officiating. Internment services followed at Forest Hills Memorial Park, Exeter Township.
At the family's request memorial contributions may be made in Memory of Teresita to St. John's Lutheran Church, 521 Walnut St, Reading, PA.