Theresa Marie (Pragacz) Morton, 1930-2022, was born to Polish immigrants Valenty and Marianna Pragacz. She grew up on Sowden Street in the Town of Dickinson. Following graduation from Johnson City High School, she married Lawrence A. Morton. Together they bought a new E-J home in Endicott, where they raised their three children. Following a stint as a stay-at-home mom, Theresa was employed at Endicott Johnson, Cadre Industries, and IBM Owego. At IBM, she was extremely proud to have obtained federal security clearance to work on military defense projects that took her to California, Seattle, and Germany.
Theresa was an excellent baker. Her cookies, cakes, pies (especially apple), and the most wonderful cinnamon rolls were a treat she shared with family, friends and her June Street neighbors. Theresa also enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She made countless blankets, sweaters, socks, mittens and hats for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Throughout her life, she found support in her Catholic faith. In her early years, she was a parishioner at St. Stanislaus Kostka church. After moving to Endicott, her spiritual home was at St. Casimir, and finally, at Church of the Holy Family. She was a Eucharistic Minister, a member of both the Altar Rosary Society and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. In her retirement years, Theresa enjoyed spending weekday mornings at Mass, followed by breakfast with her circle of church friends. She also enjoyed volunteering at church functions and at local nursing homes.
Theresa is survived by her children: Lawrence A. Morton, Jr. and his daughters, Chelsea (Paul) Lee and Katelyn Morton; Lynn Paniccia, her husband, Al, and their daughter Leanora; Carleen Morton Crawford, her husband, Rich, and her daughters, Francis Abraham and Emily (Ryan) Kegerise. Theresa is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Haley Simpson, Maverick Kegerise and Dexter Abraham; a sister, Irene Smith (Washington State), a brother-in-law, John Morton and his wife, Barbara (Texas), sisters-in-law, Janet Pragacz, Jane Cunningham, and Marlene Williams; and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 64 years, Larry, and 7 siblings.
Theresa’s family is very appreciative of the wonderful skilled nursing care she received over the last four years from the compassionate staff at United Methodist Homes-Hilltop Campus, Unit 2.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday 11 am at Church of the Holy Family, 3600 Phyllis Street, Endwell. Burial will be in St. Stanislaus Kostka Cemetery, Johnson City. The family will receive friends at church Friday from 10 am until Mass time at 11 am. Expressions of sympathy in her memory may be made to Mercy House of the Southern Tier, 212 North McKinley Avenue, Endicott, NY 13760.