Theresa Mary Charlton

Following a five-year battle with Dementia, Theresa Charlton died peacefully in the early hours of Monday, August 21st at Saint Mary’s Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare, listening to her favorite music and surrounded by her loving husband and children.

The staff at Saint Mary’s thought Theresa must have been a celebrity as she had a constant flow of visitors during her brief stay, which included her grandchildren and their spouses, her great grandchildren, friends, members of the clergy and even a family dog, Watson.

Theresa Mary Charlton (nee White) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 22nd, 1935, to Richard White and Kathleen Coffey. She was a product of Catholic Education and attended Gesu Elementary School in North Philadelphia and John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls’ High School.

In 1953, she married the handsome and dashing Edward Littleton Charlton and moved to Fishtown, Philadelphia where she began to raise a family. This would turn out to be a very wise decision as she and her husband would be married for another 70 years! She had 5 children of whom she was extremely proud – Edward John Charlton, James Christopher Charlton, Kathleen Helena MacFarlane, Michael Joseph Charlton, and Christopher David Charlton.

In her early 50’s, Theresa went back to school and earned a degree in Early Childhood Education, quite an accomplishment for someone who had not been to school in over 30 years. She went on to teach at an Early Childhood Learning Center and two Catholic Elementary Schools. She also continued to teach Bible School at St. John’s Catholic School in Collingswood, New Jersey for many years.

Theresa is survived by her five children listed above and their spouses; Sharon (Edward), Rosemary (James), James (Kathleen) and Jessica (Christopher); her 9 grandchildren and their spouses/significant others, Faith Charlton and Michael Schraeger; Ian Charlton and Mariel Mussack; Cristin and Andrew Introcaso; James Charlton, Jr.; Colin MacFarlane and Esther Bliss; Deirdre and Solomon Dawson; Neil MacFarland and Allie D’Amelio; and Luke Charlton; and her three great grandchildren, Roland Introcaso, Julian Charlton and Maeve MacFarlane. She is also survived by relatives in Ireland, the Coffeys and the Regans and a host of other friends.

Theresa was a devout Catholic who participated in many religious related activities and events including prayer groups in South Philadelphia and Collingswood, NJ. She was an early adoptee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and wanted to spread her joy and enthusiasm to her family and friends. She was also an active member of Marriage Encounter and Christ Renews His Parish.

Everyone was always welcome in Theresa’s house from the Insurance salesman, to the neighbors (two of whom were both named Helen), to relatives (who sometimes stayed for months) and to friends and family. When she and Edward were first married, Edward’s parents and siblings lived with them, and her children grew up in a multi-generational family. Weekends were full of gatherings with old friends from Philly to new friends from Dublin Ireland, the Byrnes family.

Without Theresa, the homework would not have been done, the children would have been ragamuffins and the house would not have been decorated for Christmas. She was the glue that held everything together. She will be sadly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Theresa’s name to Sacred Heart School in Camden, New Jersey and/or Alzheimer's Foundation of America, https://alzfdn.org/donate/