She was born on March 28, 1951 in Omaha, Nebraska, and her name is Theresa Josephine (Bozak) James. The second of four children that Rose (Marcuccio) Bozak and Frank Bozak had, she was the second of her siblings. Toots tied the knot with Jerry James, who was also from Omaha, Nebraska, on June 14, 1975. During the course of her marriage, she was blessed with a stepson named James, who she cherished deeply and felt to be her own. Rich, who was married to Charris, had a son named Nathan and a daughter-in-law named Hannah.
Through the affectionate nicknames “Toots” and “Tootsie,” she is referred to by her family and close friends. In addition to her younger sisters, Mary Lou (Bozak) Parr (husband Pat; children Roz, Grant (daughter-in-law Abbey), and Vivian) and Katie (Bozak) Miller (husband Trace; children Max (daughter-in-law Rachel and granddaughters Quinn and Sloane) and Marcus), whom she always wanted to make proud and serve as the best big sister one could have, she always looked up to and loved her older brother Lou Bozak (daughters Molly Brignall (granddaughter Maggie) and Nina Bozak. She has always looked up to and loved her older brother Lou Bozak, who had daughters Molly Brignall (granddaughter Maggie) and Nina Bozak. She also had a deep affection for her younger sister Nina Bozak.
Tootsie spent her childhood in South Omaha (Little Italy) and Ralston, where she connected with members of her extended family and created memories that will last a lifetime. Her affection for her aunts and uncles was boundless. On the other hand, she had a special fondness for her cousins, notably her Coco, Marcuccio, and Petak relatives, with whom she had wonderful recollections of holiday and other family gatherings. She maintained a close relationship with a significant number of her extended family members during her latter years and was one of the primary organizers for a family reunion that was initiated just a few years ago.
Until Jerry’s unexpected death on September 19, 2002, Theresa and Jerry had been married for a total of 27 years. Their daughter, Tara, was born on January 28, 1980, and their son, Jarrod, was born on September 12, 1977. Jarrod’s wife, Ashley, and their children Brooklyn, Jack, Owen, and Drew were born simultaneously. Tara’s husband, Chad Roberts, and their sons Payton and Tanner were born first. Both Jerry and Theresa devoted their entire life to their children, acting as coaches and team moms for a number of their children’s athletic teams that they participated in.
In spite of the fact that they had numerous chuckles and wonderful times together, life was not without its challenges. When Jerry was just four years old, he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, and due to this condition, he experienced practically all of the symptoms that are associated with diabetes. He was told by his physicians that he would not live past the age of 27; then it was thirty, then it was forty-four, and finally they stopped making predictions.
Through it all, Theresa was Jerry’s consummate wife, companion, and caretaker. She was there for him through everything. In addition to being the primary provider for the family, she continued to act as his champion during the several visits to the doctor, surgeries, and hospital stays that he endured. It is general knowledge that Theresa is the sole reason Jerry lived to be 54 years old. He lived long enough to witness the birth of his only granddaughter, Brooklyn, as well as the birth of his first grandson, Nathan. This is something that he never imagined he would be able to live through based on the forecasts of his doctors.
Her love for her grandchildren was so deeply felt. The memories that her grandkids will never forget include things like going to the mall, having sleepovers on Christmas Eve, and taking car journeys to get ice cream together. In a short amount of time, she became well-liked by a large number of other parents and grandparents since she enjoyed attending sporting events and was eager to boast about her grandchildren’s accomplishments. In addition to spending time with her family, she maintained an active lifestyle by attending breakfasts with her friends on Saturday mornings. She also took pleasure in getting to know her neighbors and serving on the board of her homeowner’s organization.
