Theresa A Colamedici

Theresa A. Colamedici, of North Arlington, NJ, Entered into eternal rest on Thursday, February 28^th, 2019 at home.  She was 93 years old.

The funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison, NJ 07029 on Monday, March 4^th, 2019.   A Funeral Mass will be offered at Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington at 10:00am. Relatives and friends may visit on Sunday from 2:00pm to 6:00pm and Monday after 8:45am. Theresa’s Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ.

Theresa was born on December 26, 1925 to Rudolfo and Assunta (Bianchini) Colamedici in Newark, NJ. She was the elder sibling to brother, Orazio, and sister, Elena (deceased).

Theresa began her study of piano at the age of 7 years old. She attended St. Lucy’s Grammar School and it was there that Theresa began her liturgical music education. During fifth grade, Theresa was asked to join St Lucy’s choir, which was under the direction of Mother Rosaria, a Sister of St. John the Baptist and the school principal. Mother Rosaria held a doctorate in music and liturgy and used her knowledge to train Theresa in these two areas through the use of Latin and English hymns from the St. Basil and St. Gregory hymnals. As she grew, Theresa studied organ at the Gilmount Organ School. She graduated from North Arlington High School and attended Caldwell College, where she studied liturgical music under Mr. Joseph Murphy. She also studied at the Julliard School of Music and was selected to sing in the Julliard Chorus.  In order to make the chorus, Theresa showed that she had an excellent knowledge of music and was able to sight read music from the alto and bass lines.

Theresa’s first job as an organist was at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bayonne for five years. She also worked at Holy Rosary Church in Jersey City for four years. After Holy Rosary, Father Cassidy recommended her to Monsignor Costello for the position of organist at Holy Cross Church, Harrison. Through the prayers of Father Cassidy and Father Glancey, she was hired and began playing at Holy Cross in 1962. Theresa had served as an organist under five pastors including, Monsignor Costello, Monsignor Fitzpatrick, Father Paulmenn, Monsignor O’Donnell and Monsignor Gilchrist. From July of 2007 through 2008, she had been the organist under Father Thomas Thottungal, Pastor Administrator of Holy Cross Church, Harrison.

Theresa has also privately tutored many young men and women in piano over the years thus providing a new generation of musicians who may one day become church organists.

Theresa’s career at Holy Cross has been a gift to the people of the parish. She had used her musical knowledge to enhance the liturgies during the Sunday masses and during the special liturgical days of the church year. Her playing and singing have added joy for many couples who married at the church and brought comfort to those during mourning loved ones during funerals. She shared her musical and liturgical knowledge with the members of the Holy Cross Adult Choir, for whom she directed from 1962 until 2006.  She also supported the Portuguese community by playing for its choir at the 9 a.m. Mass for many years.   All in all, Theresa’s life was one of service to her community and to the parishes that she provided the music for.

If you would like to send a condolence message to her family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.

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