Theresa Casilio, 97, of Powers Avenue, Johnsonburg, PA, after a short illness, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 surrounded by family.

She was born in Johnsonburg on May 19, 1926, a daughter to the late Frank and Mary Raubenstrauch Parana.

Theresa was a lifelong resident of Johnsonburg. She was a 1944 graduate of Johnsonburg High School, and upon graduation, she went to work for Casilio Upholstering where she met John Casilio when he returned for WWII. They married, started Elk Upholstering and raised three children. He preceded her in death on June 22, 2008. 

Theresa was of good humor, hard-working and an honest person who always helped others. She was a talented seamstress who could sew anything be it clothing, curtains, upholstery and bind rugs and was also the bookkeeper for the business.

She had boundless energy and enjoyed yard work, gardening, and knitting, was an exceptional homemaker who baked 2 pies every Sunday. She also was an avid reader and often won the family scrabble games with her good vocabulary and sometimes creative spelling.

Over the last 25 years she would spend the winters in Texas with her daughter and would return home in the Spring to Johnsonburg and the house her husband had built for the family. 

Theresa is survived by her brother Raymond “Bucky” Parana of Johnsonburg, and her children; John Casilio in MA, James Casilio in NM, JoEllen Casilio in TX, and 5 granddaughters and 3 great-grandsons.

She was preceded in death her parents, husband John, brothers; Stephen, Frank, Andrew and Joseph Parana and sisters Ann Malone, Mary Willow and Irene Zelechoski.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian burial for Theresa Casilio to be conducted at Holy Rosary Church on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 10:30 AM with Fr. David Wilson, Pastor as celebrant. She will be laid to rest in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Johnsonburg, alongside her husband of 61 years.

Friends will be received at the Anthony F. Ferragine Funeral Home and Cremation Services Chapel, 401 Chestnut Street, Johnsonburg, PA on Friday evening from 6 to 8 PM.