Obituary for Theresa Pendergast
Theresa “Terry” Pendergast of W. Simsbury was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world on January 30, 2021 at age 91.
She was born in Rumford, Maine to Domenic “Dominick” and Wilhelmina “Mamie” Palleschi on June 4, 1929. She was a first-generation American Citizen.
She is pre-deceased by her parents, her husband, Frank Pendergast and all her siblings, Caroline, Josephine, Dominic, Robert, and Donald, and her 4-legged companions that brought her immeasurable joy, Buffy Marie, Ginger Pearl, Honey Girl and most recently Buddy and Booty.
Theresa was an avid reader, gardener, and wildlife watcher. Her favorite time of year was spring, the anticipation of blooming flowers brought her great joy. She enjoyed her wooded property where she could view a variety of birds, her favorite being the blue bird. The large barn in her back yard was a magnet for barn owls, red fox dens, deer and the not so occasional mama bear and cubs.
She also enjoyed scouring the Farmington Valley for antique furniture and vintage jewelry. She believed in supporting the local businesses, and if you bought her a present, you better check the label for “made in America”, you would only make that mistake once.
Theresa loved spending time in the kitchen, creating delicious meals for her family. Neighborhood children would gather at the home for some of her famous toll-house cookies or home-made brownies. Theresa had a passionate love affair with food. She fully embraced her Italian heritage, and came from a long line of exceptional cooks, from her mother to her sisters; Caroline and Josephine, all with different specialties. One of her favorite family traditions was her homemade Christmas cookies, she never met a sweet she could resist, and would often remark when the portion she was served did not meet with her expectation, “that’s awful skimpy”. Her biggest challenge was finding a hiding spot for her sweets before her children devoured them.
She enjoyed visiting her husband’s family in Cornwall Ontario, Canada, San Jose, California and Portland, Oregon. A favorite activity was staying at a quaint bed and breakfast and enjoying a proper mid-day Victorian tea. Other travel destinations were Italy and Russia. Theresa was passionate about the performing arts, while in Russia she enjoyed the Bolshoi Ballet’s Swan Lake. Locally, she often visited the Hartford Stage and Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Attending concerts of Andrea Bocelli at the Hartford Civic Center, and later Sarah Brightman at the Bushnell. She also met two famous Italian Icons, Phil Esposito while traveling in Russia and Frank Sinatra after attending his Concert at the Hartford Civic Center.
Theresa was devoted to her children and was viewed by most as a saintly mother of 5 rambunctious children, Terrence, Patricia, Deborah, John, and Neil. Her pride and joy were her 12 grandchildren, Joseph, Alex, Samantha, Haley, Colin, Brian, Michael, Andrea, Andrew, Matthew, Daniel, and Peter. As she aged, she worried more about all of them, especially Joseph and Andrew when they were active-duty Marines.
At times we think Theresa preferred the company of her four- legged friends best. She will be sorely missed by Harley, Scooby, Milan, and Sadie. Nothing brought her greater joy than when they jumped on her bed to lick her face, or when they joined her for a nap on the couch.
She leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her family will receive friends during a walk-through visitation on Friday, February 12th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 13th at St. Mary’s Church, 942 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Burial will be private. If you are considering a donation in Theresa’s memory, the friends of Simsbury Public Library or your local animal rescue shelter would honor her legacy. Please visit Terry’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com to watch the livestream of the Mass or to leave online tributes.
She was born in Rumford, Maine to Domenic “Dominick” and Wilhelmina “Mamie” Palleschi on June 4, 1929. She was a first-generation American Citizen.
She is pre-deceased by her parents, her husband, Frank Pendergast and all her siblings, Caroline, Josephine, Dominic, Robert, and Donald, and her 4-legged companions that brought her immeasurable joy, Buffy Marie, Ginger Pearl, Honey Girl and most recently Buddy and Booty.
Theresa was an avid reader, gardener, and wildlife watcher. Her favorite time of year was spring, the anticipation of blooming flowers brought her great joy. She enjoyed her wooded property where she could view a variety of birds, her favorite being the blue bird. The large barn in her back yard was a magnet for barn owls, red fox dens, deer and the not so occasional mama bear and cubs.
She also enjoyed scouring the Farmington Valley for antique furniture and vintage jewelry. She believed in supporting the local businesses, and if you bought her a present, you better check the label for “made in America”, you would only make that mistake once.
Theresa loved spending time in the kitchen, creating delicious meals for her family. Neighborhood children would gather at the home for some of her famous toll-house cookies or home-made brownies. Theresa had a passionate love affair with food. She fully embraced her Italian heritage, and came from a long line of exceptional cooks, from her mother to her sisters; Caroline and Josephine, all with different specialties. One of her favorite family traditions was her homemade Christmas cookies, she never met a sweet she could resist, and would often remark when the portion she was served did not meet with her expectation, “that’s awful skimpy”. Her biggest challenge was finding a hiding spot for her sweets before her children devoured them.
She enjoyed visiting her husband’s family in Cornwall Ontario, Canada, San Jose, California and Portland, Oregon. A favorite activity was staying at a quaint bed and breakfast and enjoying a proper mid-day Victorian tea. Other travel destinations were Italy and Russia. Theresa was passionate about the performing arts, while in Russia she enjoyed the Bolshoi Ballet’s Swan Lake. Locally, she often visited the Hartford Stage and Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Attending concerts of Andrea Bocelli at the Hartford Civic Center, and later Sarah Brightman at the Bushnell. She also met two famous Italian Icons, Phil Esposito while traveling in Russia and Frank Sinatra after attending his Concert at the Hartford Civic Center.
Theresa was devoted to her children and was viewed by most as a saintly mother of 5 rambunctious children, Terrence, Patricia, Deborah, John, and Neil. Her pride and joy were her 12 grandchildren, Joseph, Alex, Samantha, Haley, Colin, Brian, Michael, Andrea, Andrew, Matthew, Daniel, and Peter. As she aged, she worried more about all of them, especially Joseph and Andrew when they were active-duty Marines.
At times we think Theresa preferred the company of her four- legged friends best. She will be sorely missed by Harley, Scooby, Milan, and Sadie. Nothing brought her greater joy than when they jumped on her bed to lick her face, or when they joined her for a nap on the couch.
She leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her family will receive friends during a walk-through visitation on Friday, February 12th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 13th at St. Mary’s Church, 942 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. Burial will be private. If you are considering a donation in Theresa’s memory, the friends of Simsbury Public Library or your local animal rescue shelter would honor her legacy. Please visit Terry’s “Book of Memories” at www.vincentfuneralhome.com