The obituary, shown below, was originally published in the February 25, 2017
issue of
The Daily Local News (West Chester, PA).
Vera DiSante, 90, of Downingtown, passed away on Friday, February 24, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Toughkenamon, she was the daughter of the late Emidio and Diamanda Riga.
Vera was a graduate of Kennett High School, class of 1944. She raised her three children while employed by Pepperidge Farms in Downingtown, “making cookies” as she liked to say as the Chocolate Room Lead Girl, retiring in 1991 with 30 years’ service.
A devout Catholic, Vera was a member of St. Joseph Church, Downingtown. She was also a member of St. Anthony’s Lodge Ladies Auxiliary and Alert Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. Vera’s hobbies included arts and crafts, painting pictures, playing bingo, and growing flowers in her garden. She also enjoyed shopping, flea markets, auctions but, most of all, eating chocolate and ice cream! She is survived by a son, Dennis DiSante, of New Cumberland, PA; daughters, Patti (Steve) Vanden Eykel, of Downingtown, and Diane (Kevin) Lashinsky, of Seattle, WA; grandchildren, Greg (Amy), Michael, and Anne Marie (Casey); great-grandchildren, Abby and Ryan; two sisters, Mary, of Wilmington, DE, and Hilda, of Centerville, DE, and nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Nazzareno Riga.
A viewing will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. on Monday, February 27, at the James J. Terry Funeral Home, 736 East Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, February 28, at St. Joseph Church, 338 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, with a viewing at the church from 9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery, Kennett Square. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Vera’s life afterwards at Pronto Bistro (Ruffini’s Restaurant) in Thorndale.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Adult Care of Chester County, 201 Sharp Lane, Exton, PA 19341, or online at www.adultcareofchestercounty.org/donate. To send online condolences, visit www.jamesterryfuneralhome.com.