Patricia (Pat) Isabel Serrani Tedesco was born on August 24, 1934 in Rome, New York, the daughter of Francesco Massimo (Frank) and Isabel Pat Mabel Cooke Serrani. Although born in Rome, NY, she was baptized in Pittsfield, MA, her mother's home town, one of the many moves from state to state and city to city during her childhood. Her father managed department stores throughout the country.
As a child she and her family lived in several states from New York and New Hampshire to Florida and California to Texas and many states in between. When Pat was to begin high school her family lived in Huntington, WV, with plans to move to Madison, Wisconsin. Her parents decided that she would attend St. Angela's Catholic Girls Boarding School, just outside of Chicago, IL. After graduation she then moved with her family to Utica, New York and attended Utica College, followed by working on the City Desk of the Observer Dispatch Newspaper, in the Finance and Personnel departments for General Electric in Utica as well as Electronics Park in Syracuse, NY.
Pat married Richard Tedesco and together they had six children. Prior to her youngest child entering kindergarten, she returned to college earning her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University as well as her Master's Degree from State University of New York. She then earned her New York State Teacher certifications for Kindergarten through Sixth Grade as well as a Secondary certification in Social Studies.
She began her career in education as a teacher in the Utica Catholic schools: St. Agnes and Notre Dame North Middle School followed by several years in the Utica Public Schools where she taught at John F. Kennedy, Christopher Columbus, and James H. Donovan Middle School as well as Thomas F. Proctor High School. After her retirement she became an adjunct faculty member in the Teacher Education Department at Utica College of Syracuse University.
After retirement Pat briefly relocated to Queensbury, NY and then to Hooksett, New Hampshire where she became a Master Gardener at the University of New Hampshire Extension Bureau as well as a Court Appointed Special Advocate Guardian ad Litem. As a CASA/GAL she advocated for abused and neglected children in the New Hampshire Family Court System.
For the past several years Pat resided in North Carolina where she has two daughters and a son. She was an avid quilter, enjoyed acrylic and watercolor painting and organized the Warm-A-Child's Head Project knitting hats for children for Duke and UNC Rex Pediatric Oncology Units in North Carolina, inner-city middle schools in Utica, Harlem and Long Island, NY.
Pat leaves two daughters: Stella Ann Tedesco-Hoffman and her husband Robert of Cary, NC, her children Tricia Noti Suplee and her husband Carl and their children Kara, Lexi and Nathan of Huntersville, NC, her son Richard Noti of Marcy, NY and his daughter Aviella and son Richard of Marcy, NY; Maria Spine and her husband Michael and daughter Nicole of Holly Springs, NC; four sons: Dr. Richard Tedesco and his wife Tina and their sons Paolo and Joseph of Hooksett, NH; Joseph Tedesco and his son Antoni of Ilion, NY and daughter Isabella of Indianapolis, IN; Frank Tedesco of Holly Springs, NC and Robert Tedesco and his wife Kira and their children Bobbi Nicole of Las Vegas, NV and Luke, of Arnold, Maryland.
Additionally she leaves eight siblings: Frank Serrani, Dixon, MO; Michael (deceased) and Julie Serrani; Helen Klotz, Raymond and Ann Serrani; Edwin (Bud) and Cheryl Serrani all of Ft. Wayne, IN; Geraldine and George Heino of Bumpuss, VA; Kathleen and John Olson, Trumbull, CT; Letitia Serrani and Vanessa Van Stee, Florence, MA; and many nieces and nephews.
Although Pat had many experiences in life, the most valued was always her children and extended family, friends and her students.
A Funeral Mass will be held 11am Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 725 Magdala Place, Apex, NC 27502.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the St. Jude Research Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, or First in Families, Raleigh, NC in her memory.
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