- Date Of Birth: February 14, 1924
- Date Of Death: April 22, 2016
- State: Michigan
Theresa G. Cassar, age 92 of Midland, passed away on April 22, 2016 at Medilodge of Midland. She was born on the small island of Malta in the Mediterranean, which is 60 miles south of Sicily. Theresa lived a full life dedicated to God and to her family.
When World War II broke out, Malta was a prime target for Nazi bombing due to its natural port and location in the Mediterranean. It was during the war in 1942 that Theresa married Carmel Cassar, who worked as a shipbuilder. The island of Malta endured 154 days of continuous bombing (more than 100 more days than the 51 days of the London blitz!) and during this time Theresa and Carmel established a household and had the first of their four children born in Malta.
After the war, they decided to immigrate to Windsor Canada in 1948. Carmel preceded Theresa, to establish a home and then a year later, even though Theresa spoke only Maltese, her native language, Theresa with their four children crossed the Atlantic by ocean liner, to join him. The family immigrated to the United States in 1950, settling in the Detroit area. Theresa and Carmel had their fifth child in Michigan. Theresa and her husband became naturalized U.S. citizens, just before her 34th birthday.
Preferring the warmer climate, Theresa and Carmel retired in Florida. Unfortunately, Carmel lived only nine months in Florida before dying of a heart attack. Returning to Michigan to be with her children, Theresa lived in the Detroit area for 11 years. For the last 20 years, she was a resident of Midland, since her youngest son, Angelo, lived here. Riverside was her first home in Midland, and Medilodge nursing home was her final one for seven years, both places that surrounded her with loving care.
Theresa was a devoted Catholic and a proud member of St. Brigid of Kildare Catholic Church and the Legion of Mary. She was devoted to Jesus and His Mother. Theresa’s joy in life was her five children, eight grandchildren and her eight great-grandchildren.
Angelo and her daughters-in-law Gretchen and Linda Cassar were privileged to spend almost every Sunday, holidays and much more for the last 20 years with their beloved mother. Perhaps the saddest Sunday in their lives was this past Sunday as they are unable to spend time visiting with their mother!
Theresa and Carmel had five children, their sons: Charles Cassar of Long Island, New York; Larry (Kris) Cassar of Bloomfield Hills; Angelo (Gretchen Kohl) Cassar of Midland and daughters: Mary (Karl) Kirsch of Mt. Clemens, MI and Carmen (Louis) Cronmiller of South Bend, Indiana and daughters-in-law Linda Cassar of Auburn, MI and Jillian Cassar of Long Island, New York. Also they currently have eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, all of whom she dearly loved. She is preceded in death by her husband, Carmel, her son Larry and her son-in-law Karl Kirsch.
