A Message from Dr. Lehana Thabane:
It is with a heavy heart that I inform our community of the passing of Theresa “Terri” Schnurr on June 14, 2023. I offer our sincere condolences to her family on behalf of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.
A graveside service to honour Terri’s life will take place in the Tillsonburg Cemetery on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 2:00pm. Please see the obituary for full service details. For those unable to attend, please consider sharing a memory or posting a photo of Terri.
We remember Terri for her love of animals, her kindness, and her generosity. A registered nurse, she worked at St. Joseph's Healthcare and The Research Institute for many years in both clinical and research roles. As a dedicated researcher who was part of the department of medicine at McMaster University, Terri contributed to numerous clinical trials in the fields of hematology and thromboembolism, which have had major impacts globally.
By all accounts, Terri was someone who truly lived the Mission and Values of our organization. Flags at St. Joe's campuses have been lowered for 48 hours in her honour. She will be profoundly missed.
I will leave you with some quotes about Terri below from her close colleagues at St. Joe's and McMaster.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lehana Thabane
Vice President, Research (SJHH) and Scientific Director (RSJH)
"I have known Terri since she was hired as a thrombosis research nurse in 1997, soon after graduating as an RN. Despite being thrust into a high-pressure research environment, she exceeded all expectations and I quickly realized that she was a very special person. In the ensuing years, she contributed to research that improved clinical practice, indirectly affecting the lives of millions of patients. In her 'spare time,' she worked as a clinical nurse at SJHH, on the rehabilitation and surgical wards. Terri was the consummate professional but also cared deeply about her patients, often checking on them during her off-duty hours. She was also fiercely proud of her family. I will miss Terri for many reasons, but most of all because she was one of the most dedicated, tireless and kind people I have ever known."
-Dr. James Douketis
"I have many fond memories of Terri, particularly how she could always be relied upon to 'go the extra mile' for her patients and colleagues. She could be relied upon to ensure that patients, whether research or clinical, received the best care possible, even when it inconvenienced her. She worked tirelessly and was deeply committed to her profession and her colleagues, and she will be sorely missed by everyone whose lives she touched."
-Dr. Mark Crowther
"Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Friend, Nurse, Researcher, and Pet lover; Terri Schnurr went out of her way to improve the lives and well-being of others. Terri was a trusted friend, who was always supportive, kind, and incredibly generous to everyone she encountered. Terri will be greatly missed, but we were all blessed to have had her in our lives."
-Laura Garrick