Cristeta “Teta” Corkey, aged 80, passed away early Thursday morning, September 28, 2017 at Henderson Hospital, just outside of Las Vegas, after a brief struggle due to complications from years of battling rheumatoid arthritis. She will be sorely missed by everyone who encountered her endlessly generous heart and laughter.
Teta was born October 27, 1936, in the town of General MacArthur on the island of Samar, Philippines. Her Mother was Maria Navidad Gacula and her Father was Quirino Fresto Gacula. Teta had 8 siblings.
She leaves her husband of 57 years, Bill Corkey of Laughlin, NV; son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Nancy Corkey of Christiansburg, VA; daughter and daughter’s partner, Sylvia Corkey Devlin and Jim Kuehn of Raleigh, NC; sisters Emelia Gacula of Colorado Springs, CO, Primitiva Hubler of Phoenix, AZ; sister and brother-in-law, Trinidad and John Ritchie, of Phoenix, AZ; sister-in-law, Rita Gacula of the Philippines; sister-in-law; sisters-and-brothers-in-law Laurie Corkey of Reston, VA; Maureen and Steve Wargo of Seattle, WA; Michael and Pat Del Castello of Carmel, California; and Michele Del Castello of Mexico; 30 nieces and nephews, 6 Grandchildren, and 10 Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Remedios; 3 brothers, Fernando, Colwaldo, Cerelo, Arturo and brother-in-law, Jack Corkey (husband of Laurie).
Teta studied accounting after high school. However, her Father sustained serious injuries while working as the Foreman of an iron mine, requiring her to halt school and find work. She took a job 600 miles away from home – on Clark Air Force base, Philippines where she met her future husband, Bill. They eventually married and moved to the US where Teta had to learn a whole new way of life.
As a family they relocated quite a bit, residing in 7 (+/-) of the USA and 9 years in the Philippines and Greece. Teta adapted to each new location with gusto, focusing on acclimating her family and getting down to the business of inserting herself into the NCO Wives Club, the Catholic Church and Choir, the bowling leagues, and making sure her kids made friends with the ‘good kids’ in the neighborhood.
Teta was quite active, creative, and a leader. She served as Treasurer and President of the NCO Wives Club and several bowling leagues throughout her life and bowled competitively, winning scores of trophies and prizes. She earned a culinary degree, specializing in pastries and cake decorating, crocheted everything, and was an accomplished seamstress. She loved music, classic films, dancing, and parties — especially parties with her sisters.
Teta and Bill shared their flair for adventure – camping across Europe with the kids in tow, traveling to the Greek Islands, flying around in small planes that Bill piloted. Later, they bought a Harley and joined the Ray Price Raleigh H.O.G.s (Harley Owners Group) in Raleigh, NC. Teta was a proud member of the Ladies of Harley, raising thousands of dollars for local charities. This period of their lives was one of her favorites.
She was an intensely proud Mom, attending every one of her son’s football, baseball, and basketball games even in the muddy, pouring rain. She would never miss a performance her daughter was in – even if the run was 15 shows.
Teta’s greatest joy was being a Grandmother and Great Grandma. Her whole self lit up and she opened her entire heart when she was with her babies. Everything they did made her laugh. And she had a great laugh.
A service will be held at Desert Lawn Funeral Home in Mohave Valley, AZ at 11am on Oct. 13th, 2017. In lieu of flowers, please help find a cure for Rheumatoid Arthritis: https://www.curearthritis.org/rheumatoid-arthritis-tribute-donation/
She was a good friend and bingo buddy. Thursday nights will never be the same.