Teresa Liberatore Davisson, 74, formerly of the First Ward and Suncrest areas of Morgantown, passed away on Dec. 20, 2021, in West Chester, Ohio, where she had recently relocated after several years of declining health.
Everyone who met Teresa knew she was a true firecracker — born on the Fourth of July, 1947, in Morgantown. She was the daughter of Mumfred “Mundy” Liberatore and Ergia Forlini Liberatore Wright. She was proud to be a granddaughter of Italian immigrants from Abruzzo, Italy.
Teresa was preceded in death by her father, Mundy. His death, which occurred when she was 22 years old, had a profound impact on her for the rest of her life. Born in Italy, he served in the military and owned and operated Mundy’s Neighborhood Bar on Madigan Avenue for over two decades. Teresa was preceded in death less than a year ago by her mother, Ergia, who also worked at the bar and who, until her death, retained ownership of the building, which has been a gathering place for family and friends for years. Teresa was also preceded in death by several aunts and uncles: Guy Forlini, Rome and Mary Forlini, Mario “Mir” and Grace Liberatore Mitchell, Arthur Liberatore and Michael Toth.
Teresa is survived by her sister, Mary Ann Liberatore, of Morgantown; daughters, Dr. Laura Davisson and husband James Boyce, of Morgantown, and Elizabeth “Bess” Odle and husband Mike Odle, of Cincinnati; four grandchildren, Maria and Anton Boyce and Andrew and Charles Odle. She is also survived by her aunts, Geraldine Toth, Antonietta Forlini, Irene Liberatore and Virginia Alexander and her uncle, Emil Alexander.
Teresa was a bright student at Morgantown High School (MHS) where she was elected vice president of the student body. She enjoyed playing flute in the MHS band and performing as a Mohiganette. Her First Ward neighbors from childhood were some of her closest lifelong friends. She graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in biology. Her first job after graduation was teaching science at a seminary school in Parkersburg. She married and moved to Pittsburgh, where her two daughters were born. She and Daniel Davisson, her husband at the time, ran a business. After divorcing, she moved back to her hometown of Morgantown with her daughters.
Building on her life experiences and following the role model of her own working mother, she instilled in her daughters the importance of education and being able to support themselves. Teresa went back to school to study computers and then worked at WVU Hospitals until she retired and could focus on being “Nonna” to her grandchildren, whom she adored. She valued family highly and remained close and loyal to her numerous cousins throughout her life. That was part of the inspiration for a multi-generational party hosted by her daughter that became an annual tradition for friends and family. Teresa always knew she could reach out to any of her extended family in Morgantown and beyond if she ever needed help. As a single mother, she took advantage of this on several occasions, and she never forgot it.
Teresa is remembered by all as being the life of the party. Within a few hours of her passing, there were numerous inquiries as to when there would be a memorial games night because she enjoyed playing board games and traditionally hosted a small party to play them on Christmas night. She was well known for her infectious laughter, sometimes called “cackling.” She enjoyed collecting catalogs, shopping online, aquatics exercises and fighting against weight bias and discrimination.
For those of you who knew Teresa, it should come as no surprise that she had some very interesting and specific requests for her funeral arrangements. She wanted at least one joke to be included. She wanted music to be performed by several musicians she knew (daughter, Bess to play Taps; Rosie Ryon and Tom Hutchinson to sing) and each of her grandchildren to speak. She also hoped Carolyn Peluso Atkins, her longtime friend, would tell her favorite memory of their times together. Teresa assumed it would be about something unexpected they found in the Marilla baby pool (but you’ll have to get the scoop on that from Carolyn). Teresa envisioned a large party after the ceremony with a DJ, people dancing to the beer barrel polka, and, of course, pasta to eat. She wanted her entire MHS65 Facebook group to be invited. She had a long and eclectic list of songs to include, such as Country Roads, Ave Maria, numerous pop tunes and the MHS fight song.
With her science background, Teresa would have wanted to follow appropriate protocols to keep mourners safe. There are many unknowns, but we know that COVID spreads in the air and is increasingly evading immunity. Therefore, the kind of funeral she envisioned is not possible.
The family wishes everyone could mourn together in the outlandish manner Teresa wanted. However, there are alternatives. To start, Teresa was known for having a particular fondness for dark chocolate Dove ice cream bars. Please have one in her honor. To address her desire for her funeral attendees to “laugh really hard,” everyone can celebrate her birthday on the next Fourth of July with a bash that fulfills that wish. Finally, her complete list of funeral ideas can be provided by her daughters upon request. Maybe someone will be inspired to try to accommodate some of her remaining wishes, even if virtually. It will be interesting to see if anyone volunteers to be the streaker.
The family would like to thank Karen Yelich for her friendship and care of Teresa. Her next-door neighbors Thomas, Michelle and Zackaree Burner and Clement and Pauline Solomon were also lifesavers (literally) on several occasions, as was Mecca 911 and Monongalia County Emergency Management Services.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, ALSAC/St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, https://www.stjude.org/give.html, or the WVU Athletic Endowment Fund’s Mumfred “Mundy” Liberatore and Ergia Liberatore Wright Athletic Scholarship, (Checks payable to the Mountaineer Athletic Club), West Virginia University, P.O. Box 877, Morgantown, WV 26507.
For guests who feel comfortable attending, friends and family will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown, from 11 a.m. until the time of the memorial service at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 27, with the Rev. Jenny Williams officiating. The memorial service will also be livestreamed on the Hastings Funeral Home YouTube page. A private graveside service will take place at Beverly Hills Memorial Gardens at a later date. By family request, masks will be required indoors.
Condolences:
www.hastingsfuneralhome.com
