Teresa Marie Rippy

Teresa Marie Rippy went to be with the Lord on June 1, 2025, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer. She was wife of devoted husband Dr. John Rippy and mother to four loving sons, Willam “Jackson” Rippy, Nicholas “Garrett” Rippy, John “Michael” Rippy, Henry Martin Rippy.

Teresa was born in 1979 in Akron, Ohio to Pamela and Dr. Michael Gaudiose and was the oldest of three daughters. She grew up in Chambersburg, PA in an idyllic 1820 farmhouse guarded by towering hemlocks, surrounded by fields and streams that called Teresa and her sisters to adventure.

She enjoyed many sports as a youth and in middle school was Hershey Track & Field State Champion in the long jump. In high school she was on the varsity basketball and track teams and played #1 on the tennis team for 3 years. Her senior year she and her sisters helped the tennis team to their first undefeated season in 25 years.

Teresa was an academic all-star, one of two chosen by the local newspaper to receive a scholarship as the best student in the county. Her freshman year of college she attended University of North Carolina where she made the varsity rowing team. She transferred to Penn State University to pursue an Engineering degree and graduated magna cum laude.

She spent her college summers in her beloved Grand Teton National Park where she was a Snake River Guide. It was there she met her future husband Dr. John Rippy, also a river guide. Her first engineering job out of college was in the oil fields of Alaska. Her blooming love for John brought her back to an Industrial Engineering career with H.B. Maynard of Pittsburgh. Over time, she became a highly sought consultant and innovator in Retail Operations and Labor Management. After H.B. Maynard, she continued her career with the Connors Group until her cancer diagnosis last year. Teresa was highly esteemed by her colleagues who called her brilliant, dedicated, mentor, teacher, and friend.

In July 2006 she married Dr. John Rippy and moved to Memphis, TN, while he attended dental school and they had their first child, Jackson. Later, they moved to Chambersburg, PA where Garrett and Michael were born before settling in Hendersonville, TN where their youngest son Henry was born, and John started his private dental practice.

Teresa’s most cherished career was wife and mom to an adventurous family of boys. She and her family hiked the Appalachian trail in New England with Henry as an infant. She and John hiked the Inca trail of Peru. Their family explored the jungles of Central America, skied the snowy peaks of the Rockies, and traveled to many National Parks.

Teresa continued to play tennis, run, do yoga, and was an avid supporter of her son’s sports teams, including football, lacrosse, basketball, and wrestling. She was always cheering from the sidelines. Within the welcoming Hendersonville community, she participated in Bible study, book club, and many other special events with friends.

During her cancer journey she continued 5-mile walk/runs, wrote a few stories, took an adventurous trip to Alaska with family, and found a way to be present for her children’s events.

Teresa lived a life of faith in Christ and was inspired by the lives and love of her family, friends, and Saint Mother Teresa after whom she was named. She and her family have expressed their eternal gratitude for the countless gestures of kindness and love from family and friends near and far that supported her throughout her life.

Teresa leaves behind her devoted husband Dr. John Rippy and four loving sons, Willam “Jackson” Rippy, Nicholas “Garrett” Rippy, John “Michael” Rippy, Henry Martin Rippy. She also leaves two sisters Michelle (Wayne) Hamilton, Rebecca (AC) Cowie, parents Dr. Michael and Pamela Gaudiose, in-laws Dr. Bill and Jan Rippy, sister-in-law Jordan (Ryan) Rippy and brother-in-law RJ Rippy.

Memorial Mass will be held 3:00 P.M., Friday, June 6, 2025 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church with Father Austin Gilstrap, celebrant. Immediately following, a reception will be held in St. Joseph’s Hall at Our Lady of the Lake.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made via @Teresa-Rippy-Legacy-Fund on Venmo, which will be given to the following local community organizations: Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, The Junior Commandos, HHS, Computer Science and Engineering, HHS Basketball, HHS Football, HHS Wrestling.