FAMILY woman Teresa Coles, who dedicated her life to helping young children learn, died on July 7 at the age of 53.

Born in Poole to Irene and Terry Haggett, she spent her early years in Upton and attended Lytchett Minster School.

There she indulged her interest in music, playing the tenor horn and learning guitar.

After leaving education Teresa worked as a waitress before taking a job in the packaging department at Poole Pottery.

In her late teens she met the love of her life, Terry Coles, whilst on an evening out in 1978 at the Jolly Miller in Poole.

Terry was immediately captivated by her “warm and lovely” personality, and they married at St Clements Church in 1981.

Teresa gave birth to her first child Shaun in July of the same year before daughter Michelle arrived in 1983.

Passionate about her brood and their education, she started volunteering at Stanley Green First School, beginning as a lunchtime supervisor before becoming involved in helping to teach as well.

She spent the majority of her 22 years with the school employed as a teaching assistant, working tirelessly with four and five-year-old children with special needs.

Teresa was passionate about her work, patiently engaging in one-on-one sessions with the pupils and always eager to give them the best possible platform to go on and achieve.

Outside of her work life, she nurtured her own children in a loving environment.

Shaun has grown up to be quality assurance engineer and is married to Samantha. Michelle works in management for Next, married Alex and gave birth to Teresa’s first grandchild, Cofie, on Christmas Eve last year. Husband Terry said family meant “everything” to Teresa and she will remain “forever in our hearts”.