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September 08, 1903 - January 21, 2009.
Theresa Massello, SSJ
 Theresa Massello, SSJ, 105, of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania died on January 21, 2009. She was in her 82nd year of religious life and was the oldest woman religious in the Erie Diocese.
Sister Theresa, formerly Sister Aloyse, was the first member of St. Paul parish to enter the convent. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania in 1927 and professed her final vows in 1933. Prior to her death, Sister Theresa watched most of Tuesday’s televised inauguration festivities and mentioned living during the terms of 19 U.S. Presidents. Sister maintained her sharpness and was quite a remarkable 105-year old! She was blessed in many ways, including having a wonderfully supportive family. Sister Theresa’s extensive career in education included being named Assistant Supervisor of Schools for the Erie Diocese in 1961. Prior to that, she taught at St. Peter, Holy Rosary and St. Joseph Home for Children in Erie. She also taught at St. Bernard, Bradford and St. Brigid, Meadville. Following her term as Supervisor of Schools, she became principal at St. Brigid, Meadville; St. Leo, Ridgway; and Sacred Heart, Erie. She also taught at Sacred Heart, Our Lady’s Christian and Cathedral Prep schools in Erie. Sister Theresa retired in 1982 and spent time ministering as switchboard operator at the Sisters’ Motherhouse, tutoring for elementary students and volunteering for the Congregation’s prayer call. In 1985, she was honored at the 12th Annual St. Joseph’s Day Family Communion breakfast sponsored by the Giuseppe Mazzini Civic Association for outstanding service through her many years of teaching and education ministry. The daughter of the late Michael and Magdalene Fatica Massello, Sister Theresa was an alumnus of Villa Maria Academy, Erie. She earned a B.S. in elementary education from Villa Maria College, Erie and attended St. Francis College, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Gannon College, Erie, Pennsylvania; and St. Bonaventure University, Olean, New York. She also participated in various workshops at the University of Dayton, Boston College and Villa Maria College. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary and Ann; and four brothers, young Nick, John, Louis and Joe. She is survived by the members of her religious community, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania; one sister, Lucy, another brother, also named Nick, and a brother-in-law, Philip Pirrello. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
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