Theresa G. Caroff

Theresa Gloria Caroff, 92, formerly of Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Moorestown, New Jersey, died, surrounded by her seven daughters, on July 24, 2021, at the Easton Home in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Born in Dunlo, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of James Joseph and Letitia Mackey Caroff.

Theresa was a lifelong educator. She graduated from the State Teachers College of Indiana in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Education and began her teaching career at Westmont-Upper Yoder High School, where she taught Spanish and French. In 1957 she earned a Master of Arts from the Humanities Division of the University of Pittsburgh. She then taught Spanish at Saint Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania. More than forty years later, she retired as a teacher from Old St. Mary’s Interparochial School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Theresa was an avid reader, New York Times crossword-puzzler, and shared her love of books, languages, and education with her seven daughters and thirteen grandchildren. Theresa’s joy was her family. She cherished her relationships with her extended family and delighted in her adventures with her daughters and grandchildren. Whether it was a trip to Yosemite National Park, a Broadway musical, or a grandchild’s performance, Theresa enjoyed each outing equally, and celebrated the individual interests and talents of her daughters and grandchildren. She remains a source of inspiration to her family for her intelligence, independent spirit, strength, and compassion.

Theresa is survived by her daughters: Dr. Letitia (Dr. Harvey Rosen) O’Kicki, Patricia O’Kicki, Joan (Thomas) Caffrey, Sarah (David) Beckerman, Caroline (William) Bissell, Mary (Stephen Smith) O’Kicki, and Maureen O’Kicki; her grandchildren, Katie Rosen (Adam) Balin and Andrew Rosen; Amy, Ryan, and Alyssa Caffrey; Laura, Conor, and Gavin Beckerman; Theo and Zora Bissell; and Lauren, Aidan, and Patrick Donohue; her great-granddaughter, Sophia Balin; and her sister, Sarah Caroff McElfresh. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law: Betty Schuster Caroff, Barbara Foy Caroff, Mary Kathryn Bowers Caroff, and Carol Merritt Caroff; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Theresa was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, James (“Al”), Dr. Romuald, William, Gilbert and George; her brother-in-law, Dr. Charles McElfresh; her sister-in-law, Julia (Hartnett) Caroff; her nephew, Michael Caroff; and her grand- niece, Kathryn Lee Krivach.

Her family wishes to thank the extraordinary staff at the Easton Home for their loving care and kindness.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on October 9, 2021, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 751 Locust Street, St. Michael’s, Pennsylvania 15951. Interment at Corpus Christi Cemetery in Dunlo, Pennsylvania will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made in Theresa’s name to one’s local chapter of “Reach Out and Read” (https://www.giverorgp.org/donate) or the Easton Home (https://www.presbyterianseniorliving.org/the-easton-home).