Theresa S. “Terri” Bucci

Lima

Theresa S. “Terri” Bucci, 84, died at 10:45 p.m. Feb. 7, 2012, at Shawnee Manor Nursing Home.

She was born Sept. 16, 1927, in Germantown, Pa., to Domenico and Nicoletta Sena Sangermano, who preceded her in death. On Sept. 8, 1951, she married Nicholas W. Bucci Jr., who survives in Lima.

Mrs. Bucci attended dance school as a young child and demonstrated that she had great talent. When she was 16 years old, she was chosen to be prima ballerina of the Philadelphia La Scalla Opera Co. Her professional name was Lucia Sandos. Later, she was prima ballerina for the Philadelphia Civic Grand Opera Co., where she performed in several operas with most of the great opera singers of the 1940s and 1950s, on stages throughout the East Coast and west to Pittsburgh and Detroit. Her dancing skills were outstanding and she received many bravos in appreciation for her work. In 1953, her husband was hired by Westinghouse Electric Corp. in Lima. They moved to Lima and she came to love it as her hometown. She brought three beautiful daughters into the world and when they married, she treated their husbands as her own sons.

She was active in local organizations. She served as president of the Lima Symphony Guild in 1967. She volunteered at St. Rita’s Medical Center, where she served in several roles, including auxiliary president and treasurer and helped with the gift shop. She also served in several other roles, because she was always ready to help where there was a need. In 2008, she was recognized for her volunteer efforts as the first recipient of the Catherine McCauley Lifetime Achievement Award in Volunteerism. She contributed 41 years and 14,145 hours to St. Rita’s Medical Center.

Survivors also include three daughters, Barbara Ann (Donald) Kruse, of Cincinnati, Donna Marie (Michael) McEwan, of Columbus, and Gina Marie (Jon) Schenk, of Morris Plains, N.J.; and two sisters, Phyllis (Carmen) Adamo and Mary (John) Baker, both of Philadelphia.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Yolanda Sangermano.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Charles Catholic Church. Father David Ross will officiate. Entombment will be in Gethsemani Cemetery Mausoleum.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Shawnee Chapel, where a parish wake service will be held at 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Charles Parish, 2200 W. Elm St., Lima, OH 45805; or to The Ohio State University Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Neurology Fund 302185, 660 Ackerman Road, P.O. Box 183112, Columbus, OH 43218, which is directly related to work led by Dr. Doug Scharre, whose devoted care helped extend Terri’s productive life. Please note that a donation must be made in Terry’s name.

Condolences may be expressed at chiles-lamanfh.com.