Theresa Liero

Theresa Liero, born February 2, 1956 (Groundhog Day), passed away peacefully on May 14, 2026.

Theresa grew up in Wind Gap, PA, the daughter of the late Richard and Terry Liero. She is survived by her brothers and sisters, Richard Liero (Alice), Mary Liero Badeen (Steve), Joan Liero Colbert (Peter), and David Liero (Chris). She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Brandon, Michael, Andrew, Elliot, Ben, Jacob, Christian, Mary, Chandler, and Zoe, as well as many dear cousins.

After graduating from Shippensburg University, she had a 40-year career in the FBI, creating many life-long friendships with her co-workers.

Theresa can be described as a bit eccentric, quirky, a determined individual – particular in her ways, endlessly interesting, feisty, strong-willed, and adventurous. She was passionate about exploring all that life had to offer.

She lived for her travels – the national parks, the remarkably unusual historical sites, and Europe – including small towns in Sicily and Poland where her family had deep roots. On one trip she fell in love with Oregon and later found a second home in Bend, which she loved sharing with family and friends. She never tired of visiting Haystack Rock, Crater Lake, Smith Rock, or Thor's Well (“The Hole”), returning to them again and again. She loved planning and experiencing these adventures, over many decades, with her nieces and nephew, and with the “Liero Girl” cousins.

She lived for her tomatoes, a tribute to her father, nurturing them from seeds (possibly smuggled from Europe) into giant plants that she faithfully watered by hand with gallon jugs. She always texted a photo of the first tomato sandwich – potato bread, a little mayo, and lots of salt – marking the start of the August bounty.

She lived for the pleasure of ferreting out treasures from the bric-a-brac of Saturday morning yard sales, often in the company of a devoted friend. She was an enthusiastic QVC shopper – especially when it came to purses, many of which made only a brief stop in her home before getting returned.

She lived for her books – devouring historical fiction and supernatural tales. A stop at the Newtown Public Library was a favorite errand, and she made a point to remind us to return all of her books promptly.

She lived for the vibrant colors she saw everywhere – in her thousands of pieces of glassware, in the beauty of 5 AM sunrises, in the perfect balance of blue and green in a mountain lake, and through the lens of the more than 33,000 photographs she took.

She lived for her love of her mother and father, whom she cared for in their final years with extraordinary devotion.

She lived her Catholic faith through her commitment to 7:00 AM Mass, Thursday night Adoration, and the many Masses she arranged in memory of her parents. Through the church she formed lasting friendships with the “church ladies” and neighbors who became an invaluable support network to her.

She loved life and embraced it fully despite the challenges of many years of illness. Because she shared her passions so enthusiastically, Theresa leaves behind an indelible mark on the lives of her family and friends – always loved, never forgotten, forever missed.

A Visitation will be held in memory of Theresa on Saturday morning, June 27 from 9:30- 10:30 AM at Saint Anastasia Catholic Church, 3301 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square, PA 19073. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, gifts can be made to advance myeloma research in Theresa's memory. Please make checks payable to “Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania,” add “Multiple Myeloma Research Fund” in the memo, and send to Penn Medicine, 3535 Market St. Suite 750, Philadelphia, PA 19104.