Maria Teresa (Gataleta) Toscano

Maria Teresa Toscano, “Teresa”, beloved wife of the late Pasquale Toscano, passed away on Friday, April 5th, 2024, surrounded by her devoted family at the age of 86.  Born in Gaeta, Italy, she is the loving daughter of the late Giovanni and Lorenza (Reitano) Gataleta.

Teresa spent her younger years in Gaeta, Italy.  After initially coming to the US at the age of 12, she returned to Gaeta to marry her childhood friend, Pasquale and they settled in East Cambridge, and then Somerville. 

Teresa had three passions: family, friends and food. She completely embodied the “Food is Love” philosophy. Her home was always filled with friends, family and an over-abundance of home-made Italian specialties: Home-made raviolis, squid or spinach pies and the item that led her to be later called by many, “Pizza Lady”, her home-made pizzas.

It was not uncommon for her to spend the day making dozens of pizzas and pies, and having the phone ring, with a request for a particular flavor or a call to “make sure you save me one !”  During the holidays, she would get a jump start on the demand, and stack her freezer with pre-made pizzas, at-the-ready for distribution.

Teresa could frequently be seen, pizza in hand, walking throughout the neighborhood, or driving to a relative. She always showed her love or appreciation by providing food. She was often seen with thermal bag in hand, at MGH, to deliver a pie or pizza to her doctors or dentist after treatment.

During the holidays, she would single-handedly prepare food for dozens of people, with music playing and dancing throughout the house. On New Year’s Eve, all the guests were invited to hang out the windows, at the stroke of midnight, to bang pots and pans to welcome in the new year. Young and old alike would dangle from the second story of her Somerville home clanking metal spoons on sauce pans as the ball fell in Time Square. Remarkably the police were never called. 

Nothing made Teresa happier than to be surrounded by the people she loved and a feast to celebrate them with. 

Teresa was an incredibly warm and loving spirit to everyone she met. She was loved by her tenants, neighbors, extended friends and family. She was an incredibly kind and generous person with an infectious spirit that will be sorely missed by all.

Teresa is the devoted mother of Nancy A. Toscano and her husband Ernie Hartel, Rita Toscano-Coray and her husband Rich Coray  and Joanna Alikonis and her husband John.  Cherished grandmother of Michael Hartel, Kristen Meehan, Rene’ Hartel, Alex Coray and Benjamin Coray.  Beloved sister of Aida Rector and Alba Becton.  She leaves many loving nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Family and friends are cordially invited to visiting hours at the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St., North Reading (Corner of Park St. and Rte. 28 at the Reading Line) on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024 from 4 to 7pm.

A Funeral will be held from the funeral home on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 at 9:30am followed by a Funeral Mass to Celebrate Teresa’s Life at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St., North Reading at 10:30am.

Interment to follow in Holy Cross Mausoleum, Malden.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Teresa’s Memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd, Waltham, MA 02452 or online at www.alz.org or to  "Balancing Act" a support group that assists the caregivers of those with Dementia at: Jewish Family and Children, 1430 Main St, Waltham, MA 02451 or online at www.jfcsboston.org.

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