On Aug. 12, 2021, Theresa Katherine Calistri (née Kelsey), loving wife and mother of four children, passed away at age 85.
Theresa was born Sept. 17, 1935, in Paterson to the late Ervin and Stella Kelsey. Theresa was raised in Paterson and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1953. She then graduated from Douglas Business School and spent eight years as an executive secretary at Curtis-Wright. On Feb. 7, 1959, she married Peter Calistri and together they raised four children, Peter, Elizabeth, Marie and Matthew.
Theresa was a parishioner and eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Tenafly for 38 years and in 2015 was awarded the Legacy Award along with her devoted husband Peter. She and Peter were avid travelers and their favorite destinations included Italy, France and Germany. They were also renowned for their delicious cooking and love for entertaining. Theresa and Peter’s welcoming home was the destination for countless gatherings with family and friends to enjoy culinary delights and plenty of laughs. Most recently Theresa resided with Peter at Seabrook Senior Living Community in Tinton Falls where she was on the Catholic Council.
Theresa was preceded in death by her father Ervin, her mother Stella, her daughter Elizabeth, and her granddaughter Victoria. She is survived by her husband Peter, three of her children, Peter, Marie and Matthew, and 11 grandchildren, Alexandra, Nicholas, Olivia, Matthew, John, Katherine, Kelsey, Ella, Peter, Robert and Annellyse.
Visitation was Aug. 15 at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A memorial service was held Aug. 16, 2021 at Seabrook Senior Living Community in Tinton Falls.
The article originally appeared in the August 19 – 25, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
