Teresita Giardina

Early Sunday morning, February 9th in the 5 o'clock hour, Teresita embarked on her eternal journey, passing peacefully in her sleep. She generously donated her body to SLU medical school and will ultimately find her final resting place at St Peter & Paul Cemetery. We will gather to celebrate her extraordinary life in a few months in St. Louis and Edinburg, Texas once we finalize a date.

Born in Guanajuato, Mexico, in 1940, she was primarily homeschooled and graduated from San Antonio High School. Her family relocated to various states before settling in the Missouri Bootheel region. She moved to St. Louis for educational purposes and met her future husband at a local fruit stand. Once married they had successful businesses in downtown St Louis.

Family was paramount to her, and she cherished her relationships with her son-in-law, Joe, and his mother Estelle LaMartina and also her mother-in-law, Antoinette Giardina.

She was an accomplished seamstress, creating Halloween costumes, curtains, and outfits. Her green thumb was evident in her gardening skills, and she enjoyed reading books and spending quality time with her grandsons. She was a creative individual who enjoyed various crafts, including making bows, crocheting, and sewing. Her culinary skills were impressive, as she prepared authentic Mexican and Italian dishes. She also had a passion for writing poetry. And she loved her Cardinal baseball. Prior to her retirement, she worked at Imo's Pizza in Webster Groves, where she meticulously set up the salad bar and developed friendships with her customers, particularly the children who visited on fourth nightly, she said they kept her young. She cherished faith, family, friends, flowers and animals. She also possessed a profound appreciation for music. She treasured her beloved cousin Aurora Casas dearly.

Deceased family members include her parents, Jose Cruz Perez and San Juana Corona Perez, brothers Frank Perez and Jose Perez, sisters Sara Garza and Maria Medlin, and her husband, Jasper Giardina.

She is survived by her only Daughter Alisa (Joe) Stratton, grandsons Joseph and Nicholas, twin sisters Connie Miller of Republic, MO, and Marie Smith of Advance, MO, and brother Matt Perez of Kilgore, Texas, and her many Texas cousins, niece and nephews, and all of her nieces and nephews in Missouri.

Her courageous battle with kidney disease included dialysis, which was interrupted by a generous kidney donation that afforded her seven additional years of life. Following a subsequent setback, she resumed dialysis with characteristic resilience and without complaint. The family extends sincere appreciation to the dedicated staff at Bethesda Dilworth, her residence for the past five years, as well as Davita Dialysis on Hampton Avenue, her driver Terry and DOCS transportation, and her many doctors, nurses, and aides who delivered exceptional care. Berger Memorial Chapel for their guidance and courtesy to a non-Jewish person.

Terri’s presence will be profoundly missed, but her memory will remain a cherished blessing to all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests contributions be made to National Kidney Foundation-St Louis, 1001 Craig Rd. Suite 480 St. Louis Missouri, 63146.