Teresa Petrolina Tejera, 85, of Ridge Manor, Florida, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 16, 2026, in Brooksville, Florida surrounded by her loved ones.

She was born on October 15, 1940, in Havana, Cuba, to Jose Sanchez and Lucrecia Sanchez. On November 25, 1961, she married the love of her life, Jose Tejera, in Havana, Cuba. Teresa dedicated her life to her family as a devoted homemaker, creating a home filled with warmth, faith, and love. She spent her years being a caregiver to not only her children but also her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Teresa found joy in the simple blessings of life. Such as sitting on the porch of the home her and her beloved built watching the many birds God placed in her yard or admiring her treasured cow collection. Teresa expressed her love through her cooking, she was known for making the best café con leche and delicious arroz con frijoles negros y yuca. She cherished all the memories made around her dining room table. A woman of deep faith, Teresa loved the Lord and lived with a heart of gold. She was the center of her large family; a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jose Tejera of Ridge Manor, Florida; her children, Maylen Puentes (Fred Puentes), Teresa Merced (Jose Merced), and Roberto Tejera Sr. (Trina Tejera); nine grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and her beloved dog, Gigi.

Teresa is reunited in heaven with her son Jose Tejera (Lisa Tejera) on November 23, 2024; and her grandsons, Jose Tejera on April 26, 2020, and Michael Merced on September 19, 2025.

A service to celebrate Teresa's life will be held on February 21, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at New Wave Church in Dade City, Florida .

Teresa's kindness and unwavering love will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.