Theresa Ann "TC" Vandenberg, 68, of California, MD, passed away on September 16, 2025, in Crisfield, MD.

She was born on August 29, 1957, in Du Quoin, IL, to the late Shirley Drusilla and Walter John Stanhouse. On January 14, 1978, she married the love of her life, Thomas M. Vandenberg, in Columbia, IL, and together they shared 47 wonderful years of marriage.

Theresa was a graduate of Gibault High School in Waterloo, IL. She went on to attend Eastern Illinois University for two and a half years before completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising at the University of Hawaii in 1979.

Theresa met her husband, Tom, at Eastern Illinois University in October 1976, and they were married in January 1978 shortly after he received his officer's commission in the U.S. Navy. Their life of adventure began with their first duty assignment in Hawaii. At just 20 years old, Theresa moved to Hawaii by herself while Tom was deployed overseas. She established their first household and enrolled at the University of Hawaii to finish her degree. At their second duty station on Whidbey Island, Washington, she bought their first home while her husband was once again deployed.

Creative and resourceful, Theresa made many of her own clothes. Her first Christmas gift to Tom was a hand-embroidered Western shirt, though it no longer fits, he cherishes it still, hanging in his closet as a keepsake of her love.

Throughout their many military moves, Theresa worked in the clothing industry before finding her calling in the office supply business. She managed her own Standard Office Supply store in Hampton, Virginia, and later returned to the company during another Navy assignment in the Tidewater area. She took great pride in her work, helping her store become the top location in the chain. Her expertise with office products allowed her to find employment with ease as they moved from duty station to duty station, though she especially enjoyed working for small "Mom & Pop" businesses. After moving to California, MD, in 2001, she served as Assistant Manager of Hallmark in the First Colony Shopping Center until 2007.

Theresa was also a gifted needlepoint and counted cross-stitch artist, winning first place at the annual Sotterley Plantation Needlepoint and Quilt Show. Her husband marveled at how she could transform a simple piece of linen into a masterpiece; today, their home is filled with her artwork.

In 2001, Theresa surprised Tom on his birthday by arranging the purchase of their first sailboat. Two years later, they upgraded to a 36-foot vessel, sailing thousands of miles on the Chesapeake Bay. In retirement, they continued to sail the Bay and twice traveled the Intracoastal Waterway to spend winters in Florida. In 2020, they transitioned to a trawler, and in 2021 embarked on the America's Great Loop, completing the 6,000-mile circumnavigation of the Eastern United States in 2022. Theresa was an active member of the Solomons Island Yacht Club, where she served faithfully as Quartermaster.

She especially loved spontaneous overnight trips to local anchorages, delighting in the beauty and majesty of the Bay. It was on a boating trip to Crisfield, Maryland, that she was tragically taken from us.

Theresa's life was rooted in love for her family and friends. She is survived by her devoted husband, Thomas M. Vandenberg of California, MD; and her siblings, Deborah Combs of Springfield, IL; Walter Stanhouse of Kingwood, TX; Bradley Stanhouse of Tampa, FL; and Barbara Brenner of Bloomfield, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents, Shirley and Walter Stanhouse.

Theresa will be remembered for her kindness, her vibrant spirit, and her unwavering love for those closest to her. Her legacy will live on in the many lives she touched.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Solomons, MD, with Father Thong officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Theresa's love for dogs, please consider making a donation to Lap of Love (https://www.lapoflove.com/angel-fund; 855-933-5683).