Theresa Marie Simonson

Mrs. Theresa Marie Simonson (nee Oaster), 86, of West Goshen, PA, passed away on November 10, 2025. Born in Philadelphia, PA, she was the beloved daughter of Joseph Oaster and Mary Oaster (nee Holly). Theresa brightened the lives of her family with her steadfast love and support, and her zest for life. She dealt with life’s problems with grit and gusto.

A proud graduate of Little Flower High School for Girls, Class of 1956, she met her future husband, Jesse Simonson, to whom she was married for 65 years, at a USO dance. She went on to work as an executive secretary. She also cared for her 4 children and worked part-time to help fund their school tuition. She loved to travel with her family, often on camping trips. She singlehandedly planned a car trip around the USA, using AAA TripTiks, and pamphlets form the Chambers of Commerce of numerous states. She also made extremely precise calculations of the gasoline needed. She was game to take detours to discover unique roadside attractions, which could be informative, entertaining or a roadside hoax.

She was skilled at crocheting, sewing and quilting. She sewed her daughter Denise’s wedding gown using a design that incorporated several patterns and involved thousands of hand-sewn sequins and pearls. She also made 52,000 rosaries to send to other countries through Missions Abroad. She crocheted blankets for babies and prayer shawls or lap blankets for veterans. She co-founded Quilts for Kids and volunteered for Birthright and the Prayer Shawl ministry. She also volunteered at a local food co-op and fostered puppies to prepare them to be Seeing Eye dogs. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always had lollipops at the ready for them.

Theresa is survived by her brother, Joseph Oaster, and pre-deceased by her sisters Patricia Murray (Michael) and Dolores Lingo (George). Theresa was loving mother of Lisa Jorquera (Mario), Jesse Simonson Jr. (Michelle), Denise Smith (Thomas), and James Simonson (Rebecca). She was the adoring grandmother of Tara Smith, Sean Smith (Ashley), Matthew Smith (Mikayla), Daniel Jorquera (Abigail), Melissa Jorquera (Dmitry), Kayla Simonson, James Simonson Jr., and Danielle Simonson. She was also an honorary grandmother of Rebecca Soltesz, Lisa Witkoswski and William Witkowski Jr. and anyone else who needed a temporary grandmother. She loved her 8 great-grandchildren: Thomas Smith, John Smith, Declan Smith, and Baby-Girl Smith (who is eagerly anticipated), Lucy Jorquera, Roy Jorquera, Niko Lyapustin, and Dario Lyapustin.

Family and friends are invited to Theresa’s Visitation from 10:00-11:00 am on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Saints Peter and Paul Church in West Chester PA, immediately followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:00 am. Interment at Saint Agnes Cemetery, West Chester PA.

In lieu of flowers, her family suggests contributions to Quilts for Kids Headquarters, 494 Lincoln Highway, Fairless Hills, PA 19030, or to The Seeing Eye, P.O. Box 375, Morristown, NJ.