
Teresa O'Hara is a person who is always there for everyone and no one is more deserving than she to be honored for her generosity and going that extra mile for her friends, neighbors and community.
Words from Riverside-Albert Volunteer Fire Department
"Behind every man stands a great woman." In the department, Teresa is the lady behind the scenes helping keep things in order as the Secretary/Treasurer of our fundraiser funds, assisting on medical calls when she is not on shift at Ambulance New Brunswick (ANB), first aid training officer for our team for over 30 years, and is always looking out for the welfare of our team.
She puts her heart and soul back into her community through her work and experience as a paramedic. Our community members always know they can call on her for medical assistance. No matter the time of day she will always answer their call. When families are doing at-home hospice care, she will check in with the family, sit with them at the end and help through the process in any way she can.
Teresa O'Hara will always be a valued member of our department and community. She always goes above and beyond the call of duty and expects nothing in return.

Teresa O'Hara has dedicated her life's work to being an avid volunteer and member of the Riverside Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Riverside-Albert Volunteer Fire Department and the St. John Ambulance. In 2007, ANB took over
EMT services for St. John Ambulance in our area and Teresa took on the role of full-time paramedic. Even when she is not on shift, she is known to make the occasional house call, help families convince their stubborn loved ones to get the medical care they need or go to work on her days off to ensure that her local ambulance services do not go understaffed.
Whether it be volunteering at a roast beef supper for her church, organizing the Alma & Riverside-Albert Fire Department's 50/50 draw or answering an emergency medical call, Teresa goes above and beyond the call of duty. She enriches our community fabric with a selfless, humble spirit and asks for no recognition in return.
Words from Father Phil Mulligan
Teresa has a wonderful gift of making everyone she meets feel welcome. As the pastor of four churches, including Holy Ghost Church to which Teresa belongs, I do not know how I would get along without Teresa's help. Like I said, she makes everyone who walks through the church door feel special, whether they are Catholic or not, whether they are a regular parishioner or people visiting for the first time.
Each Saturday, as I travel from Riverview to Riverside-Albert, I have no worries that the church will be open, that the heat is turned on if needed, and that everything that we need to worship well will be in place. It's worry-free because Teresa's dedication and commitment to her church makes it so. She takes pride in her church, and it shows.
Teresa spearheads the church decorating not only at the high seasons of Christmas and Easter, but also all throughout the year. She travels to Riverview on a regular basis to pick up supplies and participate in regular meetings.
Teresa looks after everything so that Mass can go smoothly and she also looks after all the administrative (including financial) aspects of Holy Ghost Church. We depend on her so much? maybe too much!
Teresa's generosity with her church community spills over into the greater community. As an EMT, Teresa brings her expertise, compassion and generosity of time to her job. Her paying job, much like her volunteering job at the
church, is more than a job it's a vocation. It's done with her whole heart.
Whenever there is a function at the community center, involving the church or not, Teresa is front and center, with sleeves rolled up ready for work. In all the time I have known her, I've never known Teresa to look for acknowledgment or praise.
Words from members of her community
With the eyes of a 27-year-old woman, I see Teresa O'Hara is an outstanding woman and citizen. She has made her career the foundation of her life and takes pride in everything she does. Being a paramedic stationed in your local
community is not an easy task. Regardless of the situation, whether Teresa is on shift or off, she is always ready to help others. There have been many occasions where a day of necessary relaxation and rest has turned into her heading out to the scene of a local accident as no paramedics on shift could get there at that time. She is dedicated and reliable to her job and community. She spends her spare time volunteering in her local church and volunteer
fire department. She is strong and courageous and will take the shirt off her back to help a neighbor, or even a stranger.
Teresa gives 100% or more, selflessly every single day for nothing more than the knowledge that she has helped or comforted someone to the best of her ability. She is a humble and compassionate woman. Teresa is a role model
for us young generations to look up to; she is humble and compassionate and she shows this through her actions. Teresa O'Hara deserves to be recognized not only for what she has done or will do, but also for just being who she truly is. Her authenticity is something we should all look and strive for. To me, she's the definition of a true Albert County Woman. - Casey
I have known Teresa personally and professionally for over 40 years. Teresa is an individual within our community whom we should all aspire to become. Her dedication to her church, community and profession is endless. Teresa gives her time, day and night, to our community without wanting anything in return, and always without judgment.
On a personal note, Teresa has been a true friend to me, my husband and family. We have reached out to her on many occasions to seek advice on a medical question or help with family funerals in the church, or just a need for
someone to talk to. Her kind and caring nature is to send a text message, drop off a note, call or sometimes just be present when she knows there is a need.
In closing, Teresa is a vital part of our community, always going above and beyond the call of duty, no matter who or what part of the community is calling. - Loretta
Teresa O'Hara has been an active member of her community for most of her life. She is a volunteer for her church, Holy Ghost Catholic Church, where she cleans, helps with fundraising, looks after the church meetings, and does
everything behind the scenes. She is the one I call on when a funeral is going to be held in the church and she is always there when needed, even vacuuming the floors at all hours of the night to make sure everything goes well and is ready for the service. She is also very involved in the Holy Ghost Cemetery Commission.
She was with the Volunteer St. John Ambulance where she volunteered countless hours to make sure everyone who needed first aid was cared for. She eventually joined the EMT Paramedics when it moved to being provincially
owned. Teresa is there for everyone, even when she is not on call. She has made many stops to my family personally when my father was not well, just to check on him and give her advice, as she has done for many families in the community. When she is not on call, she still will go just so the families are comforted by knowing her and that
she will do whatever she can to make sure their loved one is cared for in the best way possible.
She also volunteers her time with the Riverside-Albert Volunteer Fire Department and is their treasurer. When they get a fire call, she is always ready to go and help them. She helps with the 50/50 draws for the Fire Department and is always the first person you see at their Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser.
She is always supporting local causes. She is known to the CCRC as she purchases tickets for their draws on every Friday night for Chase the Ace, goes to all the Christmas Markets and anything else that is going on locally.
She is very humble and expects nothing in return. She has a good heart and is there for everyone, day or night. Some refer to her as Albert County's Florence Nightingale. She exudes light in dark times and has a way of taking control of situations without being forceful. She is a very caring, generous person who always has a smile. It must be trying at times to serve your community in this way, but Teresa has never wavered and is a strong woman who always puts the needs of others before her own. The fact is they don't make them like Teresa anymore. She is one of a kind who truly deserves recognition by her community and I consider it a privilege to know her. - Lisa
We have so many people who could express their gratitude to Teresa, but this article would go on forever. If you know Teresa and she has impacted your life, please be sure to let her know how special she is and what a valuable part of our community she truly is.
As a way of showing our thanks, a collection of donations to the Riverside-Albert Volunteer Fire Department, Alma Volunteer Fire Department and Hillsborough Volunteer Fire Department will be made in honour of Teresa in thanks for all her hard work and dedication to her community.
Thanks again for all you do, it does not go unnoticed. From your friends, neighbours and community.