Serita Pereira Spadoni of West Chester Serita Pereira Spadoni,
96, of West Chester died Sunday, March 27, after a brief illness, surrounded by
her family.
A long-time resident of West Chester, she resided for 15 years
at Bellingham Retirement Community, and most recently at Barclay Friends. For
almost 67 years Serita was the beloved wife of Bernard Spadoni who passed away
in 2005.
She was the daughter of Alfredo Pereira and Herminia Alvarez
Pereira. Born on March 5, 1915 in Belem, Brazil, Serita moved with her family
to Cuba and then to Philadelphia in 1917 where she grew up.
Serita graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls where
she was an outstanding student (excelling in languages) and athlete. She was
the only girl on a boys' baseball team and hiked 25 miles each Saturday with a
hiking club. In 1937 she graduated from West Chester University having majored
in physical education with a minor in French and worked for a time in the PA
Department of Public Assistance and also at Curtis Publishing.
A native speaker of Spanish, Serita took courses in Spanish at
Swarthmore College, Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania so
that she could become certified to teach Spanish in secondary schools. She
taught Spanish in the Marple Newtown School District from 1958 until her
retirement in 1972, most of the time to academically talented middle school
students. She also taught for a time at West Chester University and often
hosted parties and programs at her home for members of the Spanish Club.
Early in her marriage she and her husband planned to take their
children to Spain specifically to learn another language, and during the
1957-58 school year Serita accompanied her three children to live in Spain so
that they could learn her native language and develop an intense interest in
the history and culture of that country. While in Spain she audited courses at
Middlebury College's graduate school program in Madrid. She and her husband and
children then traveled in Europe at the close of the school term.
Once Bernard retired in 1978, Serita and he fulfilled their
dreams of traveling around the world (usually on the Queen Elizabeth II ocean
liner) several times until 1993 having a continuing interest in experiencing
different cultures.
A long-time member of Birmingham Friends Meeting, Serita served
on numerous committees and spent almost 20 years as a Sunday school teacher of
children.
She was known for her pastoral care of family, friends, meeting
members and people in need, her creative handwork of all types (having won best
in show at the Kimberton Fair where she exhibited her first quilt), beautiful
dancing, an engaging friendliness, and generous hospitality to all.
A devoted wife and mother, Serita is survived by her daughter
Serita Spadoni of Glenmoore, her son Robert B. Spadoni and his wife Rosa of
Willow Street, and his two daughters Alexandra and Arianna and Rosa's son
Christopher, and her son Charles B. Spadoni of West Chester, his wife Terry and
his daughters Andrea and Lindsay. Serita was pre-deceased by her brother
Sebastian and three sisters who died in infancy.
Interment will be private at the Birmingham-Lafayette Cemetery.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, at Birmingham
Friends Meeting, 1245 Birmingham Road, West Chester. Serita's family, friends,
members of her Meeting and those who would wish to attend are invited to her
memorial service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory
to Birmingham Friends Meeting.
Arrangements are being handled by the Founds Funeral Home, Inc.,
West Chester, (610) 696-0134, www.foundsfuneralhome.com.
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