Theresa F. (Bongo) Scuderi, 84, of North Syracuse, passed away Monday unexpectedly and peacefully, after a short illness, with her family and close friends at her side. She was a life resident of the Syracuse area and was raised on the North Side moving to Liverpool in 1958. She worked part-time for Burns Airport Security and Byrne Dairy but spent most of her life caring for her family. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and Solvay Moose Club. Theresa loved to dance, cook and dote on her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved traveling to Italy, Las Vegas and spending her winters in Florida with her husband of 63 years, Charles and her son, Robert. Tootsie could really set a table, she loved to entertain family and friends and always had plenty of coffee, Italian food and cookies available at a moment's notice. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Charles J. Scuderi Sr. in 2007; parents, James and Josephine (Tucci) Bongo; brother, Joseph Bongo and sister, Christine Anthony. Theresa is survived by her daughters, MaryBeth (Grant) Stallknecht of Onondaga Hill and Cheryl (Nick) Garzia of North Syracuse; sons, Charles (Anna) Scuderi Jr. of Baldwinsville and Robert Scuderi of North Syracuse; seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME and 10:30 a.m. in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Entombment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. Family and friends may call at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY on Friday from 4 to 7 pm. Contributions in Theresa's memory may be made to the or Syracuse Veterans Hospital.

Published in Syracuse Post Standard on December 15, 2011