Teresa Marie Lacaria
August 15, 1967 - September 7, 2020

Teresa Marie Lacaria, 53, of Scottsdale, AZ, formerly of Woodbury, CT & Waterbury, CT was called to heaven by the Lord on Monday, September 7, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her spouse, Cheryl DiRollo, her brother Thomas Lacaria and his wife Lori-Jean, her sister-in-law Joann Lacaria all of Watertown, CT and her nephews and nieces, Christopher, Michael, Andrew (Megan), Thomas Jr. (Allie) and Christine Lacaria, and her grandnephews Luca and Jackson. In addition to her parents, Teresa was predeceased by her brothers Bruno and Joseph Lacaria and her Mother Eleanora Lacaria. Teresa was born in Waterbury on August 15, 1967, to the late Eleonora Lacaria and late Thomas Lacaria. She worked most recently as Senior Director of Corporate Accounting with Freedom Financial Network, in Tempe, Arizona. After spending 24 years at GE Capital as Controller of Finance. Teresa graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1985 and earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut in Finance and her M.B.A. from Fairfield University. Teresa had many interests: she was an exercise enthusiast, a lover of the arts and greatly enjoyed being in the great outdoors - she loved planting flowers, landscaping, but her passion was the beach; her quest was to find the longest stretch of shoreline. She especially loved to travel and learn about new cultures. She travelled extensively for both work and pleasure to South America, Europe and India, happily sharing many of those adventures with her spouse Cheryl. Although, her travels took her to many far-off places her favorite place to be was at home with Cheryl and Holly her sweet West Highland Terrier. Possessing an abundance of love, kindness and generosity, Teresa truly embodied what it means to be an exemplary human being. During one business trip to India she found herself deeply bothered by the level of poverty she witnessed - prompting her to visit an orphanage to which she donated wheelchairs for those in need. For 6 years she selflessly accompanied her spouse, Cheryl, on visits to see Cheryl's ailing mother in a nursing home - always trying to think up new ways to keep her mother engaged and entertained. She was also a consistent annual donor to the United Way. Her generosity of spirit also extended to the workplace where she was loved, admired and respected by all her colleagues at GE Capital and Freedom Financial, many of whom shared multiple stories about her generous mentor-ship through which she would always stress the importance of team work. As a daughter, sister, spouse and aunt, Teresa's commitment and dedication to her family, like her love for them, was always unwavering and without limits. Teresa showed great devotion to care for her Mother and Brother when they were called to Heaven. Nothing was too difficult when it came to her family. She was a loving and proud aunt always giving generously to her nephews and her niece. She was deeply loved by her brother Tom, and her sisters-in-law Lori-Jean, and Joann Lacaria as well as the DiRollo family. Teresa left the world a better place for her having lived in it. Whether at work, overseas or at home - her love and generosity of spirit knew no bounds. Her loving memory, like the void her absence leaves, will be felt in the hearts of all the family members, friends and colleagues who her knew and loved her. It's with certainty that she's in heaven planting flowers, playing with God's creatures and teaching finance to anyone who will listen. Teresa, we love and will miss you. May you rest in peace.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Teresa's memory: The Foundation for Women's Cancer 230 W. Monroe, Suite 710 Chicago, Illinois 60606 https://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/gynecologic-cancers/cancer-types/uterine-endometrial/

Arrangements: Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, October 10th at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at 10:00 a.m.

Tributes