Theresa Marvaso

Theresa Marvaso of Chester, MD, formerly of Wheaton, MD, died February 23, 2016, at Compass Regional Hospice Center in Centreville. She was 89. Born on January 23, 1927, in Strasswalchen Austria, the daughter of the late Franz Dengg and Theresa Lugstein Dengg, she grew up roaming the hills of the Austrian Alps as her playground. There was much work to be done, but also time for fun. As a young adult, Theresa worked in the main post office in Salzburg. It was there, while living and working in Salzburg that she met and married her husband Salvatore (Sam, Sal), an American GI. In 1953, Theresa was headed to the United States. She traveled by train from Salzburg, through the Austrian and Swiss Alps to Cherbourg, France, where she boarded The Queen Mary bound for New York. Theresa and Sam settled in Washington, DC, for a time before buying their home in Wheaton, MD, where she routinely walked nearly a mile to the nearest shopping center. She never drove an automobile. Theresa was a homemaker in Wheaton, devoted to her children. She was tough, but there was never a shortage of love or fun. Her youngest child, Carol was born severely disabled. Theresa devoted her life to the love and care of Carol, doing everything in her power to ensure comfort, fun, and happiness to the best of her abilities. She somehow found the time and energy to provide all of these to her other children as well (with a regular dose of good, old-fashioned discipline). There was always room at her table for her children’s friends, and more often than not, friends were present. Theresa often opened her home to kids who had troubles at their own homes. More than once, children who were not her own found peace and love in the Marvaso home for extended stays. She somehow always found enough room and enough to feed everyone. One of the ways she showed her love for others was by cooking. Her children’s friends knew well of the hearty meals that would be served each evening. Theresa wanted everyone to eat. During summer days, or after school when friends showed up, she would greet them and then begin running down the contents of the refrigerator, and guide them as to what was available for them to enjoy; last night’s leftovers or the seasonal fresh fruit recently purchased. She often cooked special dishes for special friends, not allowing her own children to have any until that special friend got theirs. This was a source of great laughter and ribbing for many years. After her children’s friends grew and moved, many would return to visit Theresa. She loved them, and they knew it. She had an easy, understanding way. She could also be a tornado. This was no secret. Even so, Theresa’s home was where many neighborhood kids wanted to be. Theresa found peace in the outdoors. She loved digging, sawing, edging, chopping, and mowing. She grew the most beautiful flowers, and the tastiest, plumpest vegetables. Her children and their friends used to tease her that she could grow anything; that if she planted a shoe, she’d grow a shoe tree. While in Wheaton, she not only mowed her grass, but the county grass on the large median strips on two sides of her home. She would mow the neighbors’ grass, just because. After moving to Stevensville, MD, in 2005, she continued to mow the grass well in to her 80’s. Theresa always found the simple things to be the most important: family, laughter, hospitality, good, nutritious food, music, hard work and love. Lots and lots of selfless love. Theresa is survived by her daughter, Eva McQueen of Wheaton, MD; daughter Genoveffa “Jenny” Marvaso of Walkersville, MD; son, Vincent “Butch” Marvaso of Chester, MD; daughter, Deborah “Debbie” Connor (Harold) of Stevensville, MD; daughter, Carol Marvaso of Laurel, MD; eleven grandchildren; 12 great- grandchildren; and nine great-great grandchildren. Theresa is also survived by beloved relatives in Austria; a niece and nephew and their spouses, two great nieces, two great nephews; and a great-great nephew. In addition to her parents, Theresa is predeceased by her husband, Sam; her sisters, Susie Hoste, Annie Sollinger, Mitzi Strobl; and her son, Harald Dengg. Services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Compass Regional Hospice, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville, MD 21617.

Theresa Marvaso

January 23, 1927 - February 23, 2016