Serafina Cieri Panaccio

1926 - 2023

Serafina Panaccio passed away at the age of 97 on April 30, 2023, at Barclay Friends Nursing Home, West Chester, with family members by her bedside.  She was born on January 2, 1926, in the town of Ortona in the Abruzzo region of Italy, the third of eight children, to parents Rocco and Giovina Cieri.  She immigrated to the United States in 1957 with her husband and two young daughters, and later became a U.S. citizen.  The family settled in Malvern where they became parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church. 

Serafina was employed by The Malvern Retreat House and worked there for many years in both the kitchen and housekeeping.  She later worked at Immaculata University for over twenty-five years in housekeeping.  In her free time, Serafina enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening with her husband, Armando.  Together they would plant, maintain and harvest their large garden plot each year, sharing their bounty with family and friends.  Serafina also enjoyed knitting, and she created many beautiful caps, scarves, booties and blankets that she gave as gifts to mark special events or occasions.  As the family matriarch, holiday dinners held a special meaning for Serafina.  She lovingly prepared traditional Italian meals that were enjoyed by all.  In summers, Serafina enjoyed family beach vacations in Wildwood and Ocean City, Maryland.  She had fun fishing and crabbing, and always took charge of cleaning the family’s catch of the day.       

Serafina is preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Armando and daughter, Fiorella Panaccio Nickels, both having passed in 2017.  She is survived by her daughter, Silvana Panaccio Hart and her husband Walter, Son-in-Law Paul Nickels, five grandchildren, Walter Hart III (Kristin), Jeffrey Hart (Charles Harrigan), Michael Nickels (fiancée, Victoria Mazzola), Kristen Nickels DiGilio (Justin), Amanda Nickels Pyne (Mark), and five great-grandchildren, Henry Nickels, Juliet Nickels, Matthew DiGilio, Nicholas DiGilio and Jackson Pyne.  She is also survived by brothers Tommaso Cieri and Domenico Cieri, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Italy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM on Monday, May 8, at St. Patrick’s Church, 104 Channing Avenue, Malvern, PA  19355, with visitation from 10 to 11 AM at the Church.  Interment will follow at St. Agnes Cemetery, West Chester, PA.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Patrick’s Church.           

 

www.maugergivnish.com