Teresa Ann DeFrancesco

Teresa Ann DeFrancesco, 88 passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughters and her devoted caretaker, Catherine, on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Teresa was born and raised in Philadelphia. Her younger years were spent at a Catholic orphanage. She graduated from Hallahan High School and attended Temple University where she met her first love, Jesse Cancelli. They were married for sixteen years and raised six daughters in Philadelphia with summers spent at their North Wildwood home until Jesse passed away at a young age. Teresa was fortunate to find love a second time. She was married 43 wonderful years to Ralph DeFrancesco until his passing in 2016. Teresa began her career in real estate and retired at the age of 64 as an executive in the banking industry. Teresa was an avid reader and traveler, whose loves were the beach, gardening, dancing and popping in at her daughter’s homes with a dozen doughnuts unannounced. Holidays were very special to her whether it was her homemade soups on Halloween to make sure her grandchildren ate before trick or treating or hosting the traditional “Italian” Christmas Eve and ending with the annual Christmas family photo with Santa on the local Fire Engine. Teresa’s legacy will live on forever, as her name will be used to commemorate a school known as “The Mother Teresa DeFrancesco Memorial Foundation for Children, “ a part of the institute for humanity and services, in Liberia, Africa. Teresa was a loving mother to her six daughters, Pamela DelBuono, Linda Cancelli, Victoria Petti (Mark), Teresa Cancelli-Bardaji, Karen Wright (Buddy), and Doreen Hubel (George). She was a proud grandmother of fifteen, Gina Baldasare (Antonino), Tina Bardaji-Taraschi (Dave), Mark Petti, Jr., Terry Bardaji-Kidner (Robert), Jessica Thress (Wayne), Eric Wright, Michelle DelBuono, Ashley Davis (Steve), Alex Hubel (Lisa), Jason Petti, Nicole Wright, Daniel Hubel, Gabriella Wright, Victoria Hubel, and her loving angel Veronica Petti. Teresa is also survived by her four great grandchildren, Cole, Austin, Alexandria, and Valentina. She will be dearly missed by her best friend and loving caretaker, Catherine Kamara. A gathering of family and friends will be held at Givnish of Cinnaminson, Route 130 North, Cinnaminson, New Jersey, 08077 on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Following her viewing a service will be held at the funeral Home beginning at 12:00 p.m. Teresa DeFrancesco will be entombed at Lakeview Memorial Park, 1300 Route 130 North, Cinnaminson, New Jersey, 08077. To share your fondest memories of Teresa please click on our “Tribute Wall” tab. In lieu of flowers the family has asked to make donations in Teresa’s name to Samaritan Hospice https://samaritannj.org/giving/donate-now/

Tributes

Teresa Ann DeFrancesco

January 11, 1931 - August 21, 2019