Teresa Christina Whelan

The songbirds of Pound Ridge went briefly silent on Thursday, September 17, 2026, when Teresa Christina (Murphy) Whelan died peacefully after a brave fight against cancer. Should a goldfinch or cardinal come sit upon your windowsill and sing a song you recognize, it may be Tess, telling the story of the beautiful life she lived with her loving husband Cahal, her devoted children Grainne and Damien, their spouses Mark Bellotti and Kara Hartigan Whelan, and her cherished grandchildren Marguerite, Cormac and Una Bellotti, and Declan and Honora Whelan.

Tess was born the youngest of eight to Patrick and Hannah (O’Callahan) Murphy on June 8, 1939 in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland. Her deep love of Ireland and her family there, including her siblings Sr. Martinez, Sheila, Denis, Eileen, John (who survives her), Peg and Una, were a touchstone for her entire life. She carried her irrepressible Irish spirit first to London, where she trained as a Montessori teacher under founder Maria Montessori’s son Mario. Rome was the next stop on her journey, where Luigia “Gina” Lollobrigida’s son was lucky to have a glamorous Montessori teacher who drove around the city in a Rolls Royce and soaked up the language and culture. After three years there and with little more than a suitcase and the dream shared by so many, she left for America, charged with opening a Montessori School for the children of Dupont employees in Wilmington, Delaware.

At a long-ago Christmas Night dance in New York City, Tess met Cahal Whelan - who had also made his way to the United States from Ireland - beginning a story of love and family that endures. Tess and Cahal settled in Pound Ridge, where in 1969, Tess opened the Pound Ridge Montessori School. For more than forty years as Directress of PRMS, Tess’s leadership, vision and commitment to the school and Montessori philosophy deeply impacted the lives of over 1300 children and their families. Her positive attitude, fun-loving spirit and warmth remain as cornerstones of the school and will be felt by generations of children to come.

Grainne and Damien grew up learning from Tess a deep appreciation for nature, adventure, creativity and activity. Tending her beautiful gardens, feeding the chickens and birds, and sharing bike rides with Cahal were among Tess’s favorite activities. Far from her Irish home and her sister Una’s beloved home “Rushmount” in Kilworth, County Cork, Tess found her American Rushmount in O’Neill’s Pub in South Norwalk, owned by her dear nephews. Tess’s pride in the life that she and Cahal created in America - beginning on that long-ago Christmas night; it was a Fairytale of New York with a happy ending. They truly built their dreams around each other. Those dreams are the foundation of the lives of the luckiest grandchildren in the world, who never had to look far at any dance competition, tennis match, baseball or hockey game, graduation or any other event to find “Goggy” or Granny Tess; her sparkling eyes danced with the pride she had for her beloved Marguerite, Cormac, Una, Declan and Nonie.

At any gathering of those she loved and who loved her, Tess would always pose a singular question. The sparkle in her eyes as she asked the question gave away the answer: “Isn’t it perfect?!” she’d say. With great sadness and deep and eternal love, we can say, “It is.”

Family and friends will be received on Monday, September 21, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Kane Funeral Home; 25 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield, CT. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM in Saint Mary's Church; 55 Catoonah Street, Ridgefield, CT. Interment will follow in South Salem Cemetery; 85 Spring Street, South Salem, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Tess’s memory to the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society, ℅ St Patrick Fathers, 8422 West Windsor Avenue, Chicago, IL 60656-4252. https://www.spms.org/support-us-page