Teresa Danielle Penland Mundal

In Loving Memory of Teresa Danielle Penland Mundal December 19, 1973 – July 24, 2025 Teresa Danielle Penland Mundal, 51, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on July 24, 2025, after a short illness, surrounded by the love of her family and community. Born in Chattanooga and raised along the waters of Chickamauga Lake, Teresa’s soul was woven from wild places and deep affection for nature, for people, and for life’s most genuine moments. A fierce lover of the outdoors, Teresa was a certified wilderness responder through SOLO and a whitewater rescue specialist, trained in Class V rapid rescue. She guided rafts down the Nantahala and Ocoee rivers with steady hands and a joyful heart, known among her peers as a “river rat” in the very best sense. She could navigate the wild with a map and compass, assess a rescue, and bring people home — and that’s what she did in all parts of her life: she brought people home to themselves, to laughter, to belonging. Teresa’s warmth was magnetic. She never met a stranger, only friends she hadn’t hugged yet. She had a radiant laugh, a gift for making people feel seen, and an open-hearted way of gathering community around her especially through food. A gifted cook and seasoned hospitality manager, Teresa worked at beloved establishments including Texas Roadhouse in Knoxville, Barley’s, and Vega Café in Norris, where she was known to locals simply as “Mama.” Whether managing a busy kitchen or greeting every guest by name, she brought joy to every shift. Her passion for music and art extended to jewelry-making, and her handmade pieces are cherished keepsakes for many who knew her. She also cooked for the homeless at The Love Kitchen and devoted herself each winter to collecting coats and blankets for those in need. In her honor, the family invites donations to be made to Angelic Ministries in Knoxville, continuing her legacy of service. When Teresa became ill, the people of Norris, who had long adored her, rose up in love and care. They organized fundraisers and wrapped her in prayer. Her church family held her close, just as she had held so many others. She leaves behind her beloved husband, James Eiken Mundal; her heartbroken daughters, Taylor Danielle (25) and Tatum Riley (21); her mother, Elizabeth Penland; her sister, Tracy Bromley; niece Sophia and nephew Ryan; and a large, devoted extended family. She was preceded in death by her father, Danny Lee Penland, the man she adored, whose loss she never stopped carrying. We find comfort in imagining their reunion now. Teresa also leaves behind countless friends, former colleagues, fellow river guides, musicians, and kindred spirits who felt like family. She loved children, dogs, all animals, and every soul that crossed her path. A celebration of Teresa’s life will be held on Saturday, August 9, at 2:00 PM at North Acres Baptist Church on Millertown Pike in Knoxville. All who loved her are welcome. Teresa lived like the rivers she loved — strong, wild, and always moving toward light. Her current carries us still.

Tributes

Teresa Danielle Penland Mundal

December 19, 1973 - July 24, 2025