Teresa Jackson, age 87, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2018 comforted by her husband at their home in Reno, Nevada.
Born June 21, 1931 in Bogota, Colombia, Teresa was the fifth daughter born to Luis Alberto and Rosa Garzon. She remembered Bogota fondly particularly the beauty of the city and the mountains surrounding it. In 1953, she immigrated to the United States, moving to Reno to join her sisters and their families. In 1970 she married Dr. Gerald Jackson, blending their families. Teresa worked as a certified dental assistant and eventually office manager at her husband’s endodontic practice until their retirement in 1999. Teresa and her husband traveled the world, and as recent as last year she was in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico celebrating her granddaughter’s wedding. She fell in love with skiing as an adult and enjoyed dancing for her entire life. She was a tenacious, vibrant, and kind woman who became even funnier with age.
Teresa was a devout Roman Catholic and a Eucharistic minister and member of the Women’s Auxiliary at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Reno. Over the course of her career, she was a member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Assistants Association, Auxiliary of the American Dental Association (Delegate, 1987), Auxiliary of the American Association of Endodontists, Nevada Dental Assistants Association (President, 1973), Nevada State Dental Auxiliary (President, 1976), and Nevada State Dental Association Concerned Dental Committee. The Auxiliary of the American Dental Association awarded Teresa the coveted Thelma J. Neff Distinguished Service Award in 1987 based on her outstanding contributions to dentistry. Teresa was also a co-owner of Beaujolais Bistro and worked to support the restaurant for several years after her retirement.
Teresa is survived by her husband Gerald; daughters Patricia Gilbert (Bill) of Reno, and Lucia Palm (Mark) of Escondido, California; step-children Bryan Jackson (Tina) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Kevin Jackson (Mari) of Salt Lake City, Jannette Wilkerson (Don) of Reno, Melinda Jackson of Reno, and Christopher Jackson (Victoria) of Salt Lake City; sister Inez Hernandez of Sparks, Nevada; half-siblings Luis Garzon (Olga) of Bogota, Colombia, and Beatriz Garzon of Bogota; fourteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews whom she loved. She was preceded in death by sisters Cecilia Garzon, Leonor Emmons, and Lila Vergara.
Family and friends are invited to attend mass and a memorial service on August 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, 1138 Wright St, Reno, NV 89509. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Northern Nevada Dental Health Programs’ Adopt A Vet Dental Program at 1301 Cordone Ave., Suite #100 Reno, NV 89502 or online at nndhp.org/veterans. Walton's Funerals and Cremations was entrusted with arrangements. The family invites you to leave a condolence message on the book of memories at: www.watlonsfuneralhomes.com

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