Teresa Vazquez

Memorial services for Teresa Vazquez, 78, of Ada are 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 20, 2024 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church; Rev. John Norvell will officiate.  The family will receive friends from 4:00-5:30 p.m. on Sunday at Criswell Funeral Home.

Teresa passed away Wednesday, May 15th, 2024 at her home. Teresa was born December 21, 1945 to Manuel Rodríguez and María de Jesús Rodríguez Picazo in San Juan de Los Lagos, Jalisco, Mexico. Survivors include her husband, Hipolito (Polo) Vazquez of the home; son, Richard Vazquez and wife Ginger; her two daughters, Rosa Stout and husband James and Yolande Vazquez; her eight grandchildren, Cesar Gonzalez, Nicholas Vazquez, Alyssandra Vazquez, Faith Stout, Steven Stout, David Stout, Isabella Vazquez, and Luke Vazquez; her siblings Dolores Rodríguez Picazo and Raúl Rodríguez Picazo.

Teresa was preceded in death by her parents; her two brothers Francisco Rodríguez Picazo, Ramón Rodríguez Picazo, her sister Sanjuana Rodríguez Vera, and her beloved son Roy Vazquez.

Teresa was a remarkable woman whose life was a testament of strength, resilience, and unwavering love. On May 31,1968 Teresa married the love of her life, Polo. She embarked on a journey of love that resulted in her leaving her homeland to begin a new life with her beloved husband in Ada, Oklahoma. She braved the challenges of adapting to a new country, learning a new language, and adjusting to a different culture with unparalleled grace and determination.

Teresa wore many hats throughout her life. She was an amazing mother who made her children the center of her world and made sure were well taken care of. With four children, she embraced the challenges and joys of motherhood with unwavering love and devotion. She was a pillar of strength for her family. She instilled in her children the values of integrity, resilience, compassion and a good work ethic that would shape their lives forever.

Her playful and competitive side would often show through when she spent time with her grandchildren who lovingly called her "Nana". She was not one to lose out on prizes from birthday pinatas, so they learned to stay out of her way-the sparkly rings were her favorite. She was a formidable player when it came to games, especially Lotería. She always had luck on her side and would often boast that "it wasn't the card; it was la persona". She loved joking with them and giving them a hard time, especially at Christmastime when "Mrs. Claus" would pass out her gifts.

When her children were older, Teresa could be found spending time with her husband at the restaurant they owned together-Polo's Authentic Mexican Restaurant. They were a great team and complemented each other nicely and together they built a flourishing business that has been in Ada for the last 49 years. She had a great attention to detail which helped ensure her customers had a great dining experience. During lunchtime you would often find her sitting down chatting with customers in her unofficial role of "public relations". Her presence at the restaurant is already missed by her friends, customers, and employees.

In her spare time, Teresa also became a gifted china painter whose art won numerous awards. She was also intrigued with experimenting with other cuisines and would create amazing savory culinary creations. She was definitely the best chef in the house. Teresa took great pride in her home. Whether it was small gatherings or large family events she was the consummate hostess and made her home warm and inviting for all who passed through the front door. She loved flowers and, in the summer, would often be found working in her flower beds. She was a lover of animals, most recently a cat lover. Her cats were her babies that she loved to spoil. She raised sweet cats that provided her unconditional love and would never leave her side.

Teresa was a true lady in every sense of the word- poised, graceful, and dignified, with an unwavering spirit that knew no bounds. While she may no longer be with us, her legacy of resilience and hard work will continue to inspire all who were fortunate enough to be touched by her presence.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to P.A.W.S. (Pontotoc Animal Welfare Society) at 1200 Sandy Creek Dr. Ada, OK. The choice to donate to P.A.W.S. in Teresa's honor is a beautiful tribute to her love for animals.