Theresa Katherine Calistri (née Kelsey)
On Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, Theresa Katherine Calistri (née Kelsey), loving wife and mother of four children, passed away at age 85. Theresa was born on Sept. 17, 1935, in Paterson, N.J., to the late Ervin and Stella Kelsey. Theresa was raised in Paterson, N.J., and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Paterson 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, N.J., 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 well 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, N.J., 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 will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, at THOMPSON MEMORIAL HOME, 310 Broad St., Red Bank, N.J. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, at Seabrook Senior Living Community in Tinton Falls, N.J. The address is 3000 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, N.J., at the Town Square Auditorium.
