Therese L. "Teri" Cresci

Therese L. Cresci, “Teri”, age 59, of Cheltenham, PA, formerly of Wilmington, DE lost her four-year fight with Multiple Myeloma the morning of Sunday October 1, 2017.

Although she was born in Wilmington, DE, she spent her young life in St. Petersburg, FL where she graduated from Largo High School. She moved back north to Delaware in 1989 where she would become a banker and eventually a medical transcriptionist until her diagnoses.

Knowing Teri, it was obvious that reaching and caring for her community was innate. Very active in the Saint Elizabeth School and Parish in Wilmington, Teri volunteered much of her time and love wherever she was needed. Living less than a block away on Oak Street, Teri would often run across the street to “St. E’s” without hesitation. It was clear that her absolute favorite activity was being a part of the St. E Athletic Association as the head cheerleading coach for the elementary level. For six seasons, she devoted her time, sweat, and energy into routines for all football, basketball, and volleyball games. Biweekly practices and often biweekly games encompassed most of Teri’s schedule and she did not want it any other way. As if that weren’t enough, she personally took over the Viking Café in “the Box” to ensure that the St. Elizabeth fans were taken care of during games on the weekends. Anywhere that the Viking Spirit was needed, Coach Teri and her cheer girls were there.

When she was diagnosed in 2013, Teri moved to Cheltenham, PA to live with her daughter Jayme, son-in-law Dave, and granddaughter Josie in order to be closer to her doctors’ appointments at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP). Diagnosed with stage four Multiple Myeloma, an intensive cancer of the blood and bone marrow, Teri kept her stubborn feistiness throughout her fight and treatments.

She was predeceased by her mother Joann Hager. She is survived by her step-father Orval Hager, Jr. (Ramona), her brothers James Piunti and Orval Hager III (Donna), and her sister Gail Lauria; her two daughters Jayme Hollinger (David) and Kendall Cresci, and her only granddaughter Josie Hollinger, whom she adored; as well as a host of friends from Delaware to Florida and back who loved her and supported her throughout her life.

Teri’s family would like to express a special thank you to her oncologist, Dr. Edward Stadtmauer and his incredible team at HUP, the nurses and CNA’s on Rhodes 3, 6, and 7 who took exceptional care of her throughout these last four years.

A visitation will take place on Friday, October 6 from 4-7 pm at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Rd., Pike Creek. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 7 at 10 in St. Elizabeth’s Church, Cedar and S. Clayton Sts, Wilmington. Interment will be in Cathedral Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Teri Cresci’s name to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (theMMRF.org/donate) or to HUP (pennmedicine.org/giving).

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