Teresa Renae "Tree" (Jacobs) Giffen was born on August 7, 1965 in Ellwood City, Lawrence Co, Pennsylvania to Birford Wayne Jacobs and Mary Jane (Nye, Jacobs, Elliott) Aegan. Teresa graduated from Riverside High School in 1984 and majored in Business Management at Beaver County Community College. She met her husband, James Aaron Giffen also from Ellwood City through a family friend and they married on March 14, 1987 prior to moving to Jacksonville, Florida. She was a 30-year member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had a profound and moving love of her Savior Jesus Christ and of the Book of Mormon.
Teresa lived and worked the remainder of her life in the Arlington area of Jacksonville. She worked for 20 years with Jbar Inc. holding multiple positions from cashier to manager. Teresa accepted a position in custodial services with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, traveling around NE Florida and SE Georgia cleaning and maintaining the church buildings. After leaving her position with the LDS church she ran her own cleaning service later hiring her niece to work alongside her.

Teresa held many titles in her short lifetime with the title of Aunt, Titi and Teesa being the most important. She helped her sister, Dianna raise her three children providing them with abundant amounts of love, discipline, and laughter. She was thrilled to be Great Aunt Tree to Anessa Sine, Christian Joel, Julius Parker and Lisanna Renae. Having them brought more joy to her life than she ever expected. Although Teresa never had children of her own she loved, looked after and guided many youth through her work as a nursery leader, Sunday school teacher, Girls Camp leader, and Young Women's president member at the Arlington Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. Teresa was a trusted and loved Cub Scout leader with pack 417 and enjoyed taking her boys on hiking adventures through many of the area's nature parks and historical sites. In addition to looking after the youth of the church Teresa also held various callings in the Relief Society (women's auxiliary).

Teresa was known for her love of random acts of kindness. It was no surprise to her family when she decided for her 50th birthday that she was going to complete 50 acts of kindness in 30 days. What did come as a surprise was that these random acts of kindness could not be your typical pay someone's food in the drive-through act of kindness. Instead she had bigger and grander things in mind.  She focused on policeman, fireman, children, the homeless and the elder.  Many of those random acts of kindness to this day are unknown to those who were the recipients of them. Her final act of kindness after passing was the donation of her corneas so others could have the gift of sight.

Teresa is survived by her beloved mother Mary (Richard) Aegan of Oil City, PA; her mother-in- law, Sophia Giffen of Ellwood city, PA; her sisters, Dianna Fresh of Jacksonville FL, Tina (Eric) Buchanan of New Castle, PA and Laurie Jacobs (Dean Edinger) of Ellwood City, PA. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Anthony, and Jessica Scoble, Victoria Fresh, Christian Lugo-Fresh, Johritza, Jadihra, Angelina, and Angelica Lugo; Dylan, Colton, and Braelyn Buchanan and Larissa and Jacob Edinger.

A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, July 23rd starting at 6 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 7665 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, Florida. The family asks that if possible, you wear yellow to commemorate Teresa's fun-loving and sunny personality.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Arlington Park Funeral Home.