Theresa A. DeSmet, 86, of East Moline, Illinois passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 surrounded by her loving husband and family.

A rosary will be recited at 3:00pm Monday, November 9, 2026, with visitation from 4:00 to 6:00pm at Van Hoe Funeral Home, East Moline, Illinois. Funeral mass will be at 10:00am on Tuesday, November 10, 2026 at Christ the King Church, Moline, Illinois. Entombment will follow in St. Mary’s Mausoleum, East Moline. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association .

Theresa Cuvele was born October 28, 1940, in Moline, Illinois, daughter of Rene and Stella (Jaecques) Cuvele. She attended St. Mary’s Grade School and was a 1958 graduate of United Township High School. Theresa married Ronald DeSmet, November 12, 1960. After a short employment with John Deere, Theresa became a stay-at-home Mom until the youngest started middle school when she joined the cafeteria crew at Wilson Jr. High. Theresa devoted her life to her family while enjoying friends and neighbors, sharing stories, treasured recipes, and laughter.

Ron and Theresa built a beautiful life together. Their days were busy, raising five children, and enriched with a growing legacy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Theresa enjoyed supporting her grandchildren at their sporting events. She affectionately earned the title of “Grandma” to their teammates, always arriving to a game or match with her signature bucket of scotcheroos. The true treasure of Theresa and Ron’s life was the tradition of spending summers in Northern Minnesota for over 60 years with her sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Lloyd. What began as seasonal vacations near Ely, led to building their beloved cabin on Elbow Lake, Cook, Minnesota. Retirement allowed them to enjoy extended months up North each year and the cabin became the ultimate destination for their children’s own summer vacations. These gatherings gifted Theresa and Ron with cherished family time, creating a legacy of loving, joyful memories the family will cherish forever. Theresa battled dementia, comforted every day by her devoted husband and supported by her loving family. Theresa and Ron were able to share life’s journey just shy of 66 wonderful years. Theresa’s strength and endurance through the past several years was a testament to her life.

Those left to honor Theresa’s memory include her husband, Ron; daughters, Mary Beth (David) Watkins, Donna DeSmet, Cheryl (Brad) Vincent, Michele Chaparro; son, Michael DeSmet; grandchildren, Elizabeth (Zach) Furlong, Emily (Alex) Sheppard, Kayla Vincent (fiancé Kurt Thorsen), Zachary Vincent, Katelin, Claire and Connor Chaparro; six great grandchildren, Claire, Carson, and Callie Furlong, Ryan, Stella and Evelyn Sheppard; and her sister, Marilyn Staab. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Arlene Sheley Burge.

The family would like to thank special longtime friend and caregiver, Cindy Bosold, and the MercyOne Genesis Hospice team for their compassionate care.

Online condolences may be left for the family at vanhoe.com