Date of Birth: September 23, 1955
Date of Death: January 23, 2024
With heavy hearts, the family of Terrace “Terri” Hodges announces her passing on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, after a battle with cancer. She was the oldest of three children born to Edwin “Ed” and Hilda Piller.
Terri was born in Neudorf on Sept. 23, 1955, before her family relocated to Melville where she was raised.
After high school, Terri attended Camrose College and then Regina, where she competed her nursing diploma.
She first met John Hodges at age 5 and was the only girl at his 6th birthday party. While in high school, Terri and John became high school sweethearts, and in 1976 they married. Their marriage was your typical 70s “for better or worse” marriage – John could not have done better and Terri could not have done worse.
Terri and John were blessed with three children, Jayton, Brianna, and Travis. While raising three kids and a husband, Terri completed a business certificate in administration and her nursing degree from the University of Saskatoon. While nursing was her first choice, she soon discovered that management was where she wanted to be. Terri’s many roles included Director of Nursing, Assistant Executive Director, Manager of St. Peter’s Hospital, and Community Manager-North Valley Health District. She then moved on to manage Yorkton’s hospital. As a manager, she was known for her many policies, and, as one doctor stated, she may be tiny but carried a big stick. Terri retired in 2011 after 35 years in the health care field.
While working and in retirement, Terri served on many boards. She was on the SAHO – CUPE bargaining team, the SHA bargaining team for SUN contracts. She also sat on the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Council, the Melville Bingo Association, the St. Paul Lutheran Home Board, as well as holding various positions in the Melville Figure Skating Club.
After retirement, Terri pursued her love of gardening, doing mosaic glass projects, and golfing. Although she lived at a lake, she and John shared a love of camping, travelling throughout western Canada and the USA. Her favourite pastime in the summer was sitting in the middle of the lake on a hot summer day and listening to old 60s and 70s tunes. In winter, Terri described herself as an avid indoorsman’, enjoying doing puzzles, playing bridge, and watching the various activities on the lake. She would venture out to their ice shack, which served as a relaxing getaway. Terri loved watching many sports, including the NFL, where she would frequently earn top spots in the Melville pool. She especially loved cheering for the Blue Jays, and a highlight was attending her first game with her granddaughters and daughter in Toronto. Like her late father, Ed, and son Travis, the Toronto Maple Leafs was her team, and they provided countless years of disappointment.
Although Terri held many titles throughout her life, her most cherished one was that of “Granny”. Her grandchildren, Reese, Belle and Lincoln, spent countless summers at the lake enjoying all the summer activities and, of course, fires! She was also so excited to share the lake with her newest grandkid, Hugo. Granny was their biggest cheerleader and loved watching them participate in all their various activities. She didn’t save her cheers for just her kids and cheered just as hard for her many extended Parlee grandchildren. Her cheers and hugs will be missed by all. Terri will be fondly remembered for her love of health care, volunteering, organizing and reorganizing, generosity, compassion, being the best listener and unofficial counsellor, and, of course, her wonderful sense of humour.
Terri was predeceased by her father, Ed Piller, and son Travis Hodges. She leaves to mourn: her husband, John Hodges; son Jayton (Rachel) Hodges and their children, Reese, Belle, and Lincoln Hodges; daughter Brianna Hodges and her son, Hugo Hodges; mother Hilda Piller;
sister Janie (Mike) Hogan; brother Phil (Kathy) Piller; nephews Thomas and Taylor Piller, Dan (Rahwa) Hogan and niece Erin Hogan; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
A private service was held for Terri on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, at Matthews Funeral Home with the Rev. Dawn Myrfield officiating. Interment will take place in the Melville City Cemetery.
Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Melville.
