TESORIERO, Viola

Viola (Voita) Tesoriero, 85, passed away at home on January 4, 2004, the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Viola was born April 21, 1918 in Phoenix and baptized a few days later in her beloved St. Mary's Church. Viola is the last surviving member of her family, preceded in death by her mother Ella (Meehan) Voita and her father William P. Voita, both of whom were Phoenix residents before Arizona became a state in 1912; by her brothers Paul and Jack, and sisters, Josephine (Dodi) and Rose (Voita) Carr. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband Bartholomew (Barney) Tesoriero, whom she met through their mutual friend Ignatius (Nat) DiGiovanni, founder of the Autom Religious Goods Company. Viola is survived by her daughter Maria and son-in-law John Guerrero and their children Joseph and Cristina; by her son Bart and daughter-in-law Brenda and their children Joshua, Teresa, Paula, and Hannah; by her daughter Kathy and by her daughter Patty, Patty's daughter Pat Sampson, and Pat's children Marquita, Demetrius and Angelique. Viola loved her family and friends deeply and often quoted the Scripture, "My delight is to be with the children of men." Visitation with a Rosary on Wednesday, January 7, 2004 at Whitney & Murphy Arcadia Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, January 8, 2004 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 24th Street and Campbell. Viola will be buried next to her husband Barney at St. Francis Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the Radio Family Rosary Program, P.O. Box 17484, Phoenix, Arizona 85011 or Miles Jesu Center, 1925 E. Baseline Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85042. Published in the Arizona Republic on 1/7/2004.