Teresa “Terry” Lynn Paugh, 66, of Lebanon, Ohio, passed on peacefully to her heavenly home Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at the Cleveland Clinic, surrounded by her family. 

Terry was born on August 5, 1956 to Alfred and Patricia Opichka in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

In 1977, Terry met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Paugh. They married on February 25, 1978. They have two daughters, Carrie Paugh Connor and Lesley Paugh Tomes.

If Terry was known for one thing it was her giving and generous heart for others. She loved to cook and bake for events, whether for church, co-workers, families in need or her own family and loved being a blessing to others. If there was a need, Terry would step in to help meet that need without being asked. 

Some of Terry’s favorite things to do were lay in bed and read books, do lottery scratch offs, float around in her swimming pool in the summer with a can of pop and a good book, play Bingo Blitz on her kindle, go out to eat with Dick, go vacationing in Myrtle Beach and spend time with her family. 

Terry was famously known for her “tie dye” cookies that were a special treat for so many at Christmas time. A generational family cookie recipe turned into years of creating joy and excitement for family and friends to enjoy her delicious, one-of-a-kind, Christmas cookies. She would slave in the kitchen for hours on end to provide smiles and bellies full of yumminess because that’s who she was. 

Terry’s heart was for her family. She went out of her way to love them, do special things for them and be there for them, no matter what. She loved to plan last-minute dinners with them just to see them and spend time with them. For almost 20 years, she took her two daughters on a Christmas shopping trip to create a fun tradition and spend special time with her girls. Her granddaughters, Haley and Leah Tomes, were the light of her life. She’d love to pick them up from school, take them through the Dairy Queen drive thru to grab an ice cream just to be a fun Mamaw. Above all, the love of her life was her husband, Dick. She cherished him and enjoyed spending every minute of her life with him. They had a marriage and love for one another to be respected and admired by all. Family was everything to her and she was truly the heartbeat of the family. Her girls are honored and privileged to step in and continue her legacy as the amazing woman she was and carry on the traditions and joyful times she created for her family. 

Terry, the most loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother is survived by her husband, Richard, children, Carrie (Joe) Connor, Lesley (Drew) Tomes, granddaughters, Haley and Leah Tomes and many other wonderful family members and friends.

Terry was preceded in death by her father, Alfred Opichka, mother, Patricia Hartman Opichka and brother, Mark Opichka.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at New Freedom Church, located at 840 Miller Road in Lebanon, Ohio on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 2pm. Please join the family in celebrating a life well lived. “Well done thy good and faithful servant.” 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to any one of the following causes that were close to Terry’s heart.

ASPCA: You can help save animals today. | ASPCA

A Child’s Hope International: Donate | A Child's Hope Int'l (thechildrenarewaiting.org)

St. Jude: Make a donation to cure childhood cancer - St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org)