Peter Terracina

1931 - 2021

Peter Terracina

Shreveport, Louisiana - Pietro "Pete" Anthony Terracina was born December 2, 1931 to Salvatore Guiseppe "Joe" and Concetta LoMauro Terracina in Shreveport, Louisiana. He passed away on June 8, 2021. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m. on June 12, 2021, at Holy Trinity Catholic, 315 Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101. Visitation will be Friday, June 11, 2021, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana with a Rosary at 7:15 p.m. Msgr. Earl Provenza and Fr. Duane Trombetta will be the celebrants. Interment will be at Hill Crest Memorial Park Cemetery, 601 Hwy. 80 East, Haughton, Louisiana.

The son of Sicilian immigrants, Pete was the only child in his family born in America. Pete was blessed with a beautiful voice and a generous soul. He dedicated his life to music - sharing God's blessings through liturgical service and various operas, musicals and choral groups.

Pete began his nine-decade singing career in the 1930's in the choirs at both Holy Trinity Catholic Church and St. Mary's Catholic School. In the 1940's, Pete began singing at masses, weddings and funerals and performed as a soloist with Rita Sardisco as his accompanist for performances at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans, St. Vincent's Academy, and Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

After graduating from St. John Berchmans Cathedral School in Shreveport, Pete attended Louisiana Tech University and Centenary College of Louisiana. Pete married his high school sweetheart, Rita Sardisco, on June 24, 1953. They were married for 39 years until her death in 1992.

Pete performed in the Centenary College Choir until he was drafted in the US Army. Pete served as the Catholic Chaplin's Assistant while stationed in Panama. When he returned, he and Rita became the Choir Director and Organist for Christ the King Catholic Church and remained in those roles until the late 1960's. Pete was also the Catholic choir director at Barksdale Air Force Base in the 1960s-1970s.

Pete and Rita served as the Choir Director and Organist for St. Jude Catholic Church in the 1970's through the late 1980's. Between the late 1980's and 2019, Pete was the Choir Director at both the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans and Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Pete sang at over 10,000 weddings and funerals during his lifetime spanning three generations of local families.

Pete was a founding member of the Catholic Oratorio Choir (later becoming the St. Cecelia Choir). Pete rose to the level of 4th Degree in the Knights of Columbus and was honored with a Pope John Paul II Papal Decree for long and exceptional service.

Pete married Bonnie Ploesch in December 1995 and they were married until her death in 2018.

Pete is proceeded in death by his parents, Joe and Concetta Terracina; sister, Mary Terracina Serio; brother, Sam Terracina; wife and mother of his three children, Rita Sardisco Terracina; second wife, Bonnie Ploesch Terracina; and stepson, Ronald Ploesch. He is survived by his children, Joseph Gregory Terracina and fiancé, Vicki Fletcher; Mary Terracina Bissell and husband, Rodney; Michael Peter and wife, Kathleen; and stepson Michael T. Ploesch. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Lauren Bissell Harris (Steven), James Terracina (Kate), Trenton Bissell (Tobie), Katherine Terracina Rominger (Matthew), John Terracina (Erin), Blaise Terracina; as well as five great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to Holy Trinity "Music Fund", 315 Marshall Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101.