Theresa J. Harris
A woman who was very devoted to her faith who kept God close to her
Family and friends attended vising hours on Monday, January 19th in the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood Home for Funerals, 262 Beach St.. Revere for Theresa J. “Terri” (Imbrescia) Harris who died on Tuesday January 13th at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston with her family by her side following a brief illness. She was 90 years old.
A funeral was conducted on Tuesday, January 20th from the funeral home followed by a funeral mass at 12 noon in Immaculate Conception Church, 133 Beach St. Revere. Interment immediately followed in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
Terri, as she was affectionately known, was born on May 1,1935 in Boston to her late parents, Philip and Carmella (Cataldo) Imbrescia. She was one of seven children, Her roots began in Chelsea and the family later moved to Revere. Terri was educated in both Chelsea and Revere Public Schools and was a graduate of Revere High School, Class of 1954.
Terri married her husband, Wayne Harris and the couple settled in Chelsea where they began their own family. They moved to East Boston in 1968. Terri was a proud and loving mother to her five children. She was completely devoted to her family providing a home filled with love, her wonderful cooking was an extraordinary example of hard work.
Terri began working as a waitress at an East Boston hotel now known as Marriott Courtyard for over 45+ years. Terri and the family later moved to Revere, and she welcomed 14 grandchildren in her life and later blessed with 17 great grandchildren.
Terri was the quintessential “Nonni” to everyone. She was fully engaged with her grandchildren and all of their friends as well. Terri enjoyed cooking many wonderful meals, and her pizzagaina was legendary, she enjoyed shopping for almost anything, she was an avid bingo player at several area churches and watching her game shows were a daily ritual. Terri also was a woman who was very devoted to her faith, and she kept God close to her. Terri was truly a woman who was courageously strong, suffering many close losses in her life. The one and only thing that truly defined this wonderful woman was her family, they meant the world to her, and she meant the world to all of them.
The beloved wife of the late Wayne W. Harris, Sr., she was the loving mother of Violet Harris of East Boston, Wayne W. Harris, Jr. and his wife, Madeline of Saugus, Christine Edwards and her husband, Richard of Saugus, and the late Rose Demers and Carmella Houghton and her husband, Wayne, the cherished Nonni of Tracey Harris, Richard “Buff” Demers and his wife, Hannah, Theresa Sasso and her husband, Matthew, Wayne W. Harris, III and his wife, Joanne, Christine Edwards, Carla Petruzziello and her husband, Marco, Christopher “Chico” Harris and his wife April, Terri-ann “Tia” Harris, Victoria Gayhart and wife, Jennfier Gayhart, and the late Edward Harris, Stacey Houghton, Violet Edwards, Crystal Edwards and Tiffany Edwards. She is the treasured great nonni of Lauren, Angelina, Juliana, Christian, Alexis, Liliana, Jayden, Lucia, Briana, Richie, Adriana, Alessia, Jordyn, Jaxson, Gemma, John and Christopher; the very dear sister of the late Caroline Kousiss, Nunzio Imbrescia, Concetta Nazzarian, Lucy Koval, Joseph Imbrescia and Rosemarie Bauman. She is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews.
In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made in Terri’s name to St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
To send online condolences, please visit www.vertucciosmithvazza.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood Home for Funerals, Revere.