Theresa M. Berg

Theresa Marie Berg, 94, of Rockford, passed away on May 15, 2024, at home surrounded by family. She was born in Soudan, Minnesota on May 9, 1930, the daughter of Jacob and Angela (Zobitz) Pavlich. She married Russell Berg on July 10, 1951, and spent 72 wonderful years together. Theresa was the first in her family to earn a college degree, and obtained her master’s degree in education from Rockford College. She worked as a third-grade teacher at Marquette Elementary and the Harlem School District. She had a deep faith for God and was a member of St. Martins Catholic Church in Tower, Minnesota and Holy Family Catholic Church in Rockford, Illinois, and also taught catechism classes and Bible School. Theresa enjoyed playing cards and crosswords, making ceramics, and tending to her gardens. She was a fantastic cook and seamstress. She was famous for her elaborate Mongolian barbeques, which she learned in Okinawa due to her husband being stationed there with the Air Force. In the 50’s when her and Russell were in Texas, she learned how to make pinatas from scratch and decorated them with tissue origami roses she learned how to make in Okinawa. She made the pinatas for family birthdays and weddings. Amongst her travels, Theresa’s dream of visiting Europe was fulfilled in 1996. She did a tour of Italy and visited family in Slovenia where she was able to see where her father was born and raised.  She was the center of the connection for her family of ten sisters and one brother, including many nieces and nephews and their children as well as her husbands’ large family and many friends, writing letters and sending cards for special occasions. Theresa was a generous, compassionate, positive, and graceful mom, grandma, great grandma, sister, friend, and teacher.

Theresa is survived by her children, Michele (Berg) Cascarano and Daniel (Catherine) Berg; daughter-in-law, Nancy Berg; grandchildren, Ben (Rachel) Berg, Samantha (Bryan) Bew, Danny Berg, and Abby Berg; great grandchildren, Anna, Cameron, and Leia; sister, Aggie (Tony) Yapel; sister-in-law, Darlene Mesojedec; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is predeceased by her husband, Russell, and son, Mitch Berg.

The family would like to give a special thank you to OSF Hospice staff, especially Dr. Whelan and Amy, and her caregivers, Lisa, Mikaya, Andrea, Teresa, Mary, and Kim.

A Memoria Mass will be on Friday, July 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Martin Catholic Church, 108 N. Second Street Tower, Minnesota 55790. Burial of cremated remains will follow in Lakeview Cemetery.