Teodorico Fabia Devera

PO1 Teodorico "Ted" Fabia Devera, USN (Ret), of North Charleston, SC, died on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017. He was 78 years old. The family will receive friends Wednesday in J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., North Area Chapel, 2119 Dorchester Road from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm where a Rosary will be held at 7:00 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, April 20, 2017, in the Saint John Catholic Church, 3921 St. Johns Avenue at 10:00 am. Prayers of Final Commendation and Farewell, will follow in Carolina Memorial Park, 7113 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406.

Ted was born in Calasiao, Buenlag, Pangasinan, Philippines, on December 30, 1938, to the late Antonio Reyes de Vera and the late Teodora Fabia de Vera. As a child, his nickname was Ike. He attended school and college in the Philippines before he joined the United States Navy in 1965 at Subic Bay, Manila, Philippines. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1971. Spanning his 21 years in the U.S. Navy, he served during the Vietnam War in the Tonkin Gulf aboard the USS Constellation, USS Forrestal, and USS Kitty Hawk; and at duty stations in Charleston, SC; Orlando, Fla.; Oceana, Va.; and the Mediterranean. He received numerous awards and commendations during his Naval career as he cooked with humility and humor for thousands of U.S. sailors. He retired in 1986 as Petty Officer First Class. After his retirement, he worked for the Naval Weapons Station (Charleston), the U.S. Postal Service, and Fort Dorchester High School. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church for more than 45 years. He also served as an active member and officer of the Pangasinan Association of Charleston. He was a phenomenal, trophy-winning bowler with Navy leagues; when he bowled, his ball thundered against the frightened pins that weren't smart enough to fall as soon as he picked up his ball. In his gardens, he grew a variety of Filipino and American vegetables, fruit, and flowers. His generosity showed through his cooking, especially with the meaty lumpia (Filipino egg rolls) he stuffed and rolled with loving care and gave away to family and friends. He also enjoyed dancing, and playing mah-jong and poker. He loved his family and his friends, and he took care of his loved ones to the best of his ability.

Surviving him are his wife, Letecia Sanchez Devera of North Charleston, SC; his two sons, Albert Maglasang De Vera of New York, NY, and Derek Sanchez DeVera of North Charleston, SC; his daughter and his son-in-law, Dora Devera Hartsell and Jeffrey Hartsell of Mount Pleasant, SC; his five sisters and their spouses, Thelma and Gordon Brady of Cathedral City, CA; Rebecca de Vera of Milpitas, CA; Norma and Ernesto Ramos of Songkoy, Pangasinan, Philippines; Fortunata de Vera Quinto of Buenlag, Pangasinan, Philippines; Teodora and Ramon Maynigo of Buenlag, Calasiao, Pangasinan, Philippines; his brother and sister-in-law, Alfredo and Edna (Sison) de Vera of San Jose, California; his four grandchildren, David Hartsell, Lee Hartsell, Callie Hartsell, and Josefine Lily Devera Hartsell; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Fe Maglasang DeVera, who died in 1988.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to the following organizations, Saint John Catholic Church, 3921 St. Johns Avenue North Charleston, SC 29405 or Hospice of Charleston, 4975 LaCross Road Suite 200, North Charleston, SC 29406.