About Us

Our Calling

Our work began in 2018 in response to a growing need identified by healthcare professionals across North Texas—patients nearing the end of life without consistent access to basic needs such as food, water, shelter, and compassionate care.

Yet the heart of Villa Teresa’s story is deeply personal. In 2010, our founder, Caitlin, lost her grandmother to pancreatic cancer. Her grandmother, “Gram,” received care in an Omega Home in Oklahoma—an experience that transformed her final days and profoundly shaped her family’s grieving process.

From that experience came a calling: to bring this model of care to others. In 2018, Caitlin founded Villa Teresa with the vision of establishing an Omega Home in Rockwall County—a place where individuals are met with compassion, surrounded by care, and able to spend their final days in a setting that feels safe, supported, and deeply human, while families are walked alongside during one of life’s most challenging seasons.

Villa Teresa is a community-based social model for end-of-life care that is provided in a “home-away- from-home” for people who are unable or do not wish to die in their own homes.

Our Board

Meet the Villa Teresa Team

Caitlin Laird
A Texan by way of Oklahoma, Caitlin enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, listening to country, ’80s/’90s, and classic rock music, needlepointing, antiquing, and cheering on her favorite team—OU football.

She loves time with her dogs, cooking and baking, and being with family and friends, and she stays active in her church and local community.

Caitlin is also involved in political fundraising, working alongside her sister, Leslie. She is deeply committed to advancing greater awareness, honesty, and support around end-of-life care, believing these conversations are essential to helping families navigate one of life’s most meaningful transitions.

Leslie Coppler
A native of Rockwall since 1996, Leslie graduated from Rockwall High School and later received her degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma.

After living and working in Washington, D.C. for her local congressman for seven years, Leslie moved back to Rockwall and continued to explore her love of politics in the political fundraising world. She currently lives in Rockwall and works with federal, state, and local candidates.

Leslie’s love for hospice care developed after her grandmother received care from an Omega Home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During this difficult time, Leslie and her family were able to spend quality time with their “Gram” while she received hospice care. Leslie is passionate about Villa Teresa and bringing this loving service to all who need it in her community.

Susan Kerr
Susan is a long-time resident of Rockwall and has seen our small town grow into the busy suburb it is today. She raised four boys who attended RISD and has established herself in Rockwall both through her work and church. Susan graduated from UTHSCSA with a Bachelor’s in nursing and has been a practicing nurse for almost 40 years. While in school, she grew an affinity for oncology and patients facing the transition from life to death. She has worked in both hospice and palliative care and is a certified end-of-Life doula dedicated to expanding her services to those who share Rockwall County.

Susan is a cancer survivor and has been for the past 34 years. She has walked beside many facing challenging healthcare decisions and sees both the need and value of establishing a safe place for people to be comforted and cared for as the story of their life comes to an end.

Bobbie Walker
Transplanted from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania after graduating high school in 1969, Bobbie began a career with a large Dallas bank that lasted 30 years. For a short time after retiring, she owned a tearoom but found volunteering at the local hospital in Rowlett especially rewarding. As the head of volunteers, she was instrumental in establishing the hospital’s first volunteer chaplain program. Through the experience of visiting patients during their hospital stay, Bobbie was able to see how important the role of spiritual support and guidance was for both patient and family as they began to heal, recover, and sometimes face end-of-life decisions—and it is the incredible opportunity to provide that care and comfort to those in need of caregiving that led Bobbie to Villa Teresa, where she considers it an honor to serve on the board.

Recently retired, Bobbie worked for a general surgery practice in the Rockwall-Rowlett area for 14 years. In her free time, she enjoys working in her yard, cycling, staying active with friends, and serving the community she loves.

Contact

Email Us: hello@villateresahome.org
Call Us: 972-948-2574

Address

709 West Rusk Street,
Suite B #805,
Rockwall, TX 75087

Affiliation

Villa Teresa is a member of the Omega Home Network.