Calling Hours:
Monday, September 13, 2021, 11:00am-12:30pm
Loutzenhiser-Jordan Funeral Home and Cremation
Services, Inc., 366-368 S. Main St., Greenville, PA
Mass of Christian Burial:
Monday, September 13, 2021, 1:00pm
St. Michael Roman Catholic Church
85 N. High St., Greenville, PA
Rev. Christopher Barnes, Pastor, as celebrant
Burial will be in St. Michael Cemetery
Theresa M. Diefenderfer, age 92, of The Heritage at St. Paul's Senior Living Community, passed away Wednesday morning, September 8, 2021 in UPMC Horizon Greenville after a brief illness.
She was born in Greenville on July 9, 1929 to Martin and Josephine (Zigo) Jamrich. She was a 1948 graduate of St. Michael High School, where she was active in tap dancing and plays. Theresa was a lifelong member of St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, Greenville, and her hobbies included traveling with her family both domestically and to Europe and doing crewel work.
On April 7, 1951, she married Stanley W. Diefenderfer, he preceded her in death on September 30, 2011.
She is survived by her son, Richard Diefenderfer of Imperial, PA; a daughter, Elaine Hodge and her husband Jay of Longmont, CO; a sister Irma Knaus of The Heritage at St. Paul's; two grandsons, Adam Hodge and Nathan Hodge and his wife Jamie and two great-grandchildren, Ivy Hodge and Shane Hodge, all of Longmont, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, her older sister Mildred Mickshaw and an infant daughter, Judith Diefenderfer.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Senior Living Community, 339 E. Jamestown Rd. Greenville, PA 16125 or St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, 85 N. High St., Greenville, PA 16125.
She was a very kind lady. She always had a smile and a good word. My best wishes to the family.
Jerry Hodge
My heart goes out to you Elaine and Rick. You were both such devoted children to your mom and it was so very evident in how much she adored you. What a blessing you were to Theresa! I feel so fortunate to have known her. She had such a way for making me feel special and loved in her presence- she had a real gift! I know you will miss her terribly. Just know how much she was loved and how much we all love you!
I wish we could be in Greenville to be with you now. Theresa was the sweetest person , just so easy to love. She will be missed.
I echo Vicki and Marianne. Your mom was such a treasure and I’m glad to have known her. I’m just on my way from my own travels so I cannot make her funeral. I’m sorry, I wish I could. All my love to you, Jay, Rick and the rest of your family.
God’s speed to Elaine, Rick and all of Mrs. Diefenderfer’s family! She and Stan were outstanding people and neighbors long ago; may they rest in peace!
Thinking about Theresa makes me smile and warms my heart, as she always had a lovely and heartwarming smile for us. What a treasure this loving and adorable lady was for the many of us lucky enough to have her in our lives. Elaine and Rick, Diefenderfer and Hodge clans, I am thinking of you with my deepest condolences for Theresa’s passing. I know that she is an inspiration to you, as she is to me, for living a life full of all the things that really matter. Nothing can erase the sadness of loss, but may all the happy memories that fill your heart sustain you in this time of sorrow. Love to you all.
I-Pei
Rick and Elaine,you have my deepest condolences. Theresa was such a kind and loving person. My prayers are with you and your family .
Theresa was an angel on earth. Her positivity and kindness was an inspiration to me. I will miss her greatly.
May she rest in peace.
Theresa’s was a life well lived. She adored her family and never had a bad word to say about anyone.
Theresa was always one to make you feel valued. I will always cherish the sound of her greeting. Something about her voice, it made you know that she really WAS glad to see you. I only knew “Mrs. Deef” casually; but she was the type to leave an impression and I am very glad to have known her.
Rick and Elaine my heart goes out to you, I Pray that you are surrounded by the comfort of family in this most difficult of times.
My Grandma was a picture perfect grandma. I remember her in the field behind their house with a sun faded bandana on her head while doing chores. There was always freshly baked brownies and a well kept house when we went to visit weekly. She and Grandpa would take my brother and I out to dinner once a week, I think chicken pie and mashed potatoes was her favorite. She was always there for birthdays, every holiday, and to take us to middle school sporting events. On the way to our destinations, she always kept a pack of gum in her purse of which she would slip us a piece in the back seat. I have lived in Colorado for the past 20 years and have only seen her occasionally, but am happy that my wife and two kids got to know her warm personality. I miss her so much already.
Love you Grandma,
Nathan
Rick – I have great memories of my mother coming out to your house on the Hadley Road to visit your parents when I was little. Can still see you mother and father standing in the driveway talking to my mother. Everyone always smiling. Glad I got to see you and your mother 3 years ago at Perkins my last trip there. She was a beautiful lady who always had a smile on her face.
With open arms and nothing but love she took me under her wing as her granddaughter. She never missed an occasion to let us all know how much she loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I’m so grateful to have been apart of her life. We will miss her very much.
Nathan and I were reminiscing on how she used to underline and double underline certain words in our birthday cards to make sure we knew how she felt. We were also talking about how it took a long time to end a phone call with her because she had to make sure she said “I love you” at least 20 times before we hung up. Such special times we will always remember including her freshly stocked gum drops in the little glass container by the front door.
Elaine and Rick,
To be shown such unconditional love by a woman who shared so much is just such a gift to you two and everyone who knew her. While you won’t have your daily conversations,
I believe you will hear her still…….I am thinking of you.
My deepest sympathies. Your mother was always so gracious, faithful, and kind. I appreciated her smile and greeting each week. May she rest in peace. Fr. David.
Mrs. Diefenderfer was one of the sweetest and dearest women I have ever known. She was very loving towards everyone but her family was her first priority. Elaine and Rick, you have been devoted and loving children to both of your parents, and they were always so proud of both of you. May God always bless you and your family.
Rick so sorry for your loss.. Isure will miss her beautiful simile and the chats in the church parking lot.
Sincere condolences to Rick and Elaine and the family. She was a great lifetime friend to my mother. I remember her as a kind, happy and caring person.