Kathleen (Teena) Marie Adamick, 76, a beloved educator over the past 30 years in Vacaville and Fairfield, died peacefully at her Vacaville home last month after a short illness.

"Teena patiently guided, encouraged and supported her students in a way that made her unique and successful," her most previous school, Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy, said in a statement published on Facebook. "She will be greatly missed but her impact on our students will last forever."

Teena was a champion of special needs students throughout her career, beginning with speech therapy students in her native Michigan and then, once settled in Fairfield, helping alternative high school students. She started working in the Vacaville Unified School District in 1992 and taught at several schools, beginning with Willis Jepson Middle School and concluding at Buckingham, where she retired in 2018.

She delighted in helping students become their best possible selves and would frequently, after seeing a former student around town, call family and friends to update them on their wonderful progress.

Near the end of her life, she told her son, Mike, "We like to think teachers can have an impact on students, but we don't take into account the other way around. Teaching had its challenges, but the students always made it worth it. They were my kids."

Teena attended St. John's grade school and high school. She earned a bachelor's degree at Eastern Michigan University and was a member of Tri Sigma Sorority. She worked at Montgomery Wards in the candy department while completing her education to become a speech therapist.

In 1980, she moved to California, settling first in Fairfield and then in Vacaville. She earned a master's degree from UC Davis in special education – the first in her family to achieve an advanced degree.

During her teaching career, she used her loving smile, quick wit, sense of humor, and genuine love of children to positively influence the many young lives and families she worked with. "In the words of one of her colleagues, she "radiated kindness and compassion," according to Buckingham's statement.

Her passions included growing stunning roses and visiting antique shops. She had an eye for eclectic beauty and loved to hunt for beautiful artworks that included blown glass, stained glass and paintings. Her backyard garden became a place of respite and peace during the pandemic, and she died peacefully among her many roses and pathways she had constructed as tributes to public servants and lost family members.

Teena is survived by sons Tom Adamick and partner Elli Meehan, as well as Mike Adamick and partner Dana Kromm, and granddaughter Emmeline Adamick. She was preceded in death by her son, Jeff, in 1989.

Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday Jan. 6 at St. Mary's Church in Vacaville, with a graveside interment following immediately after in Fairfield where she will be buried next to her son, Jeff. Vaca Hills Chapel is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers or donations, Teena asked that you be kind to someone this day and the next. "Just be kind," she liked to say, "Just be kind."

Teena is also survived by her older brother, J. Thomas Hughes, his wife Paula and their children; Christopher Hughes, his life partner Jacquelyn Poirier, Sara Hughes DeYoung, her husband Joshua and their children Elijah and Taylor, Trevor Hughes, his wife Annika and their children Grady, Rowan and Kyla.

Her brother Michael J Hughes, his wife Nancy, their children; Joe Hughes his wife Chelsea and their child Lucy, Eric Hughes his wife Alicia and their children Madelyn, Jocelyn and Albert, and Meghan Hughes.

Her sister Mary (Tim) Nicholson, their children; Gregory Nicholson, Teena's Godson who preceded her in death, Rachel Crnarich (Bryan), grandchildren Brayden and Riley, Trevor Nicholson(Emilie), grandchildren Elliott and Theo.

Her sister Anne Melissa Erickson and her children Jason Hughes Erickson, Lindsey Erickson, and her Godson, Jackson Erickson.