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Page 271 Theresa Marguerite Paterno Ciluzzi Miele [1894-1954] By Donna DeGerome Raab Theresa Paterno had a great heart and a warm, sincere smile. She was always ready, and willing and quite able to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. Theresa had an adventuresome spirit and developed many friends as she great up in Manhattan. She was a very stylish individual who displayed her excellent choice of clothing with grace and dignity. She was a music lover who was skilled at playing the piano.
In 1914, Theresa met and married a prominent pharmacist, Ralph Ciluzzi. Theresa enjoyed a very good life style with Ralph and her children. She had a cook and maids to help run her beautiful home as well as a chauffeur who drove their Cadillac. However, she and Ralph separated in 1927. Theresa went to Reno, Nevada, to obtain a divorce from Ralph Ciluzzi in 1934. She loved Reno and returned there often to visit with her friends until health problems did not allow her to travel.
After their separation, Ralph moved to Italy and built “Villa Ciluzzi.” The children traveled to and from Italy in order to spend time with each parent and enjoyed their transatlantic crossings on luxury cruise ships.
In November 1935, Theresa married Joseph Miele, an entrepreneur with varied endeavors, including interest in a goldmine in Columbia. Theresa and Joe Miele had a beautiful seven-acre estate in Orange, New Jersey, with a mansion, swimming pool and tennis court. They divorced in 1944. Afterward, Theresa lived in West Orange and East Orange, New Jersey, until 1954. Her daughter, Helen Degerome lived nearby in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, with her family and her son John Ciluzzi lived nearby with his first wife, Dorothy.
Theresa will always be remember for her generosity, gracious personality and love of her children and grandchildren. She took pride in her trim figure, stylish clothes, neat appearance, and cheerful attitude. She loved to play card games and the piano and truly enjoyed life!
Theresa’s son John reminisced, “She was always cheerful, wanting to do all that she could for her kids – right to the end! She was a really wonderful mom who was dedicated to her children!”
He son, Ralph wrote, “She possessed a joy of life that would light up her face as her eyes sparkled. She truly had more pep and spirit than all three of her children. There was a deep blond of love between us never declared or spoken but we both knew it was there. All my life, the ray of bright joyful sunshine that she had placed around me to protect me has done just that.”
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