Theresa (Terry) M. Kannofsky

Our blessed mother, Theresa (Terry) M. Kannofsky, at the age of 84, succumbed to her five-year battle with cancer.  Terry lived a fulfilling life, including 12 years at Greenspring Retirement Community, developing many friendships through pinochle, the singing group Choristers, social events, and taking great personal interest in the lives and well-being of her neighbors.  Prior to moving to Greenspring, she lived 42 years with her husband, Jack, in Rose Hill, a subdivision in Fairfax County, VA, where she was editor of the Rose Hill Rambler. She loved to volunteer—helping at the Koinonia Foundation, which aids local residents in need, and as a member of the League of Women Voters, she assisted on Election Day for many decades. Growing up in Brooklyn, Terry was a passionate and curious member of the Zenker Family—nine sisters and brothers, her parents Barbara and Henry, an occasional dog, and parakeets.  She attended Bishop McDonnell High School and loved chemistry and art courses.  Her first job was in New York City at AT&T, where she met Jack.  After their wedding in 1957, they lived their first seven years in Staten Island, raising four precocious children before moving to Virginia in the mid-1960s.  With Jack as her partner for 52 years, Terry square-danced her way across northern Virginia, ate sweet-and-sour meatballs at their backyard luaus, had an occasional strike at league bowling, and took her turn playing the “dummy” at local bridge tournaments.  Terry, Jack and their children loved the water and spent many summers at Holden Beach in North Carolina, where the family “chicken-necked” for crabs and body surfed.  They also loved their time at Lavallette, New Jersey and Lake Genero, Pennsylvania.  While in her 40s and after her kids had flown the nest, Terry founded TK Associates, an intellectual property services company, which she successfully ran until her retirement 15 years ago.  As a devout Catholic, Terry volunteered at several local churches throughout her life, most recently at St. Raymond Penafort.  She served as a Eucharistic minister for many of her Greenspring neighbors who were unable to attend Mass.  She loved her faith, her children--John, Terry Anne, Jim and Kathy—her husband Jack (deceased 2010), her friend Sid, mystery novels, crossword puzzles, her two cats, and her collection of fine crystal.  She enjoyed visiting friends and socializing with everyone, including high school students that were her meal servers at Greenspring’s dinnertime.  Many have said that she had a wonderful sense of humor, infectious smile, and was generally the "life of the party". Her family and friends will always remember her that way. 

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to these charities which were close to our mother's heart, in the names of Theresa and Jack Kannofsky: Greenspring Scholarship Fund, 7410 Spring Village Dr., Springfield, VA 22150; Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675

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