Teresa Blanchette

Our beloved mother, Teresa Blanchette, 93, passed away peacefully on September 24, 2025, surrounded by her children expressing their love and prayers for her. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow the service at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Marshall.
Teresa was born on May 9,1932 to Umberto Cozzella and Giulia Russo Cozzella in the city of Napoli, Italy. Teresa loved the sunshine, the ocean, and the fresh fish and vegetables of her homeland and carried this love of nature and good food throughout her life. Teresa married George Blanchette in 1952 in Italy and shortly thereafter came to the United States full of life and love and an even more profound gratefulness for sunshine and the ocean as her new life was in Marshall, Minnesota where she experienced her first winter! She also lived in Watertown, SD where she had many friends including a couple that spoke her native language.
Teresa had an incredible sense of humor and passion for life that affected all the lives she touched. She loved to bake and cook and, as a good Italian mother, she was determined to feed whoever came into our home. She often sang Italian songs. O Sole Mio was one of her favorites. She was also very beautiful. It would be fair to say that our mother is truly unforgettable by anyone who has known her. Her children will have wonderful memories to share forever.
Her greatest passions were the Catholic Church and being an American. Teresa would find her way to Holy Redeemer Church every Saturday and/or Sunday regardless of the weather. She was devoted to Jesus and the Blessed Virgin. She recited the rosary daily, sometimes several times a day. Her love of God sustained her throughout her life. There was only one TV channel, EWTN, on nearly all the time once the children left home: the channel with the Priests, Bishops, sometimes even the Pope, and of course Mother Angelica leading the rosary each day.
Teresa became a United States citizen on June 9,1965. It was a very proud moment. She had studied for the test and was ecstatic about taking the oath of citizenship. She never hesitated to remind us that she was and always would be an Italian, but more importantly she was an American citizen.
We love our mother. We will miss our mother. We will tell stories and cry and laugh. We will forever bake her banana bread recipe. We will make lasagna, spaghetti, eggplant parmigiana and top it all off with Galliano cake and good wine and we will salute our mother for all the days to come. Her children were her life. We thank her for all she gave to us and that she gave us her all. And we thank God for giving her love and peace.
Teresa is survived by 7 children, 21 Grandchildren, and 21 Greatgrandchildren. Teresa's children include Maria Kitscher (Jerry), Beverly Dye (Steve), Joan Schober (Carl), Dan Blanchette (recently deceased), Jeanette Thompson (Richard), Jim Blanchette, Thomas Blanchette (Susie), and Judy Reitmeier (Kevin).
Teresa's Grandchildren include: Julian Johnson (Mindy), Emily York (Sean), Dustin Dye (Kari), Shayna Clements (Darius), James Johantgen, Scott Schober, Claire Schober (Dave), Alana Theus (De Angelo), Jessica Melton (Doug), Gina Thompson, Destony Bulcher (Jeremy), Chance Blanchette (Sky), Amber Blanchette, Nina Blanchette, Charles Blanchette, Andrew Blanchette, Lauren Blanchette (Cale), Alex Blanchette, Ryann Blanchette, Alissa Rothermich (Marc), and Jenna Reitmeier.
Teresa's Great-grandchildren include: Gianna Clements, Jackson Dye, Addy Dye, Madelyn Johantgen, Mason Copp, Cooper Roof, Peyton Blanchette-Taitano, Valentine Brown, Tarantino Theus, Karmelo Theus, Alison Bulcher, Johnathon Bulcher, Grace Bulcher, Charlotte Bulcher, Everlyn Bulcher, Jayden Bulcher, Augustine Bulcher, Isaac Melton, Vivian Melton, Benjamin Rothermich, Cozzella Rothermich, and Theodore Rothermich.
Teresa is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews and their descendants in America and in Italy.
Teresa was preceded in death by her mother and father, Umberto and Guilia Cozzella, her brothers and sisters: Nina, Pietro, Armondo, Maria, Ida, Assunta, and Josephine, her husband George Blanchette, her son Dan Blanchette, and her in laws; Charlie and Irma Blanchette, John and Nola Blanchette, Jim and Carol Blanchette, and Jean Blanchette.
Our mother, Teresa, will forever be in our hearts and always remembered in our prayers. God Bless You always mother!
Memorial contributions can be made to EWTN and Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament; home of the Clares nuns founded by Mother Angelica.
Eternal Word Television Network
5817 Old Leeds Rd.
Irondale, Alabama 35210
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament
3222 Co Rd 548
Hanceville, Alabama 35077
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