Tess Lewis Obituary (1990 - 2022)

Tess Lewis, 31, of Virginia Beach, VA passed away on Feb 1, 2022 at her family's home in Maine, from liver cancer caused by her childhood Fontan heart repair. Born in Buffalo, NY to Michele and Philip Walter, physicians gave Tess a limited prognosis for survival due to her congenital heart defects. She set the tone of her life early with her fiery spirit and desire to live and thrive on her terms. Live, she did. After graduating from High School in Maine, Tess completed her Bachelor's degree In Psychology at the University of Maine at Orono. While at Umaine, she was a sister of the Chi Omega Sorority and valued her participation in their many philanthropic events. Tess loved to explore new places. She traveled throughout the US and Canada, visited Paris, Iceland and Costa Rica where she completed her Yoga teacher certification. She returned often to her ancestral home in PEI, Canada. After moving to coastal South Carolina, she met and married her husband Cliff, became a devoted mother to his daughter Paisley, and was absorbed into a Coast Guard family of witty and lovable friends. They later moved to Virginia Beach, bought a home, and thrived in their new community.Tess served on the local PTA, and was honored as volunteer of the year in 2021. Tess worked locally in private medical practices as she prepared to start her masters degree. Liver disease canceled her plans for further education so she focused her energy on her family, teaching her beloved Paisley swimming, snowboarding and fostering her excellence at school. She loved to bring her family home to Maine for swimming and boating in the Belgrades, and snowboarding at Sugarloaf, where Cliff first proposed. Tess displayed a rare beauty and grace, a deep passion for the beach and the slopes, good music, (it's all about the lyrics, Mom) rides in the Jeep with the top down, the dog park with pups, Sam and Evie, and all things Kate Spade. Tess was always better dressed than the rest of us. She is survived by her husband, Cliff; her daughter Paisley, devoted parents Michele and Philip, her Gramma Bridget, her sister Amanda (Jim and Jimmy), her wonderful southern in-laws, aunts, uncles and cousins whom she loved on both sides of the border, and her very good friend and champion to the end, Mary Anne. We don't know how we will live without our unicorn, but we do know, in her final days she was surrounded by her closest friends and family, who will continue to honor her legacy of love, loyalty, friendship and humor, by living each day to the fullest. A celebration of life by invitation, will be held in Virginia Beach in April 2022. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to: Hope for Life Rescue, inc 610 Jack Rabbit Road, Suite 3 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23451 hopeforliferescue@gmail.com 757-491-4609A 503(c)3 Non-Profit Animal Shelter Or offered directly on their webpage: www.hopeforliferescue.com