Theresa Marie (DeFrancesco) Farias, 86, of Bristol, RI passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on July 19, 2026, at St. Anne's Hospital in Fall River, MA. She was the beloved wife of the late George Michael Farias who died on July 5, 2012.

Born in Pittston, PA on February 10, 1940, she was a daughter of the late Charles DeFrancesco and the late Grace Falcón DeFrancesco. Raised and educated in Pennsylvania, she was a resident of Portsmouth, RI prior to moving to Bristol, RI and later becoming an annual snowbird to Bonita Springs, FL.

Mrs. Farias was a third-grade schoolteacher for the Portsmouth (RI) School District for more than 30 years and a mentor to several new teachers.

She was a communicant of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, Bristol, RI.

An avid Mexican Train and Mahjong player, Terry was also a devoted escort of friends to doctor's and therapy appointments. She was a lifelong dog lover, a traveler and a book club member. "Fit as a sneaker" Terry's exercise routine made Methuselah nervous for his reputation.

She was the mother of Rebecca Bené, married to Steffen Sommerfield, residents of Millersville, MD; Terri Robinson and Audrey Rocha both of Somerset, MA; and Ronald Bienkowski of Apex, NC; grandmother to seven and great-grandmother to one; and aunt to Donna DeFrancesco of Wilkes-Barre, PA; Christine DeFrancesco-Henriquez of South Amboy, NJ and Angela Compton of Lorris, SC.

Visitation has been respectfully omitted.

Relatives, friends and neighbors are cordially invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 10:00 am at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Church, 141 State Street, Bristol, RI.

Burial will follow in Pocasset Hill Cemetery, Tiverton, Rhode Island.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her name may be made to K9s for Warriors or the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.sansonefuneralhome.com [192 Wood Street, Bristol, RI 02809 phone (401) 253-7110].