Teri Taurisano

UTICA – Teri Taurisano, age 43, was called home to be with her late mother and brother due to complications after a surgical procedure on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. At the time of her passing, she was in the hearts of those who loved her. After her dad learned of her passing, Bobby succumbed to the sadness, and he too passed away hours later. Born in Utica on July 25, 1980, Teri was the daughter of the late Robert “Bobby T” and Jeri (Leisenring) Taurisano. She attended T.R. Proctor High School and furthered her studies in the medical field, attending BOCES to obtain her CNA certification. When she was young, Teri met Mike Sigal in Rhode Island. They ultimately realized they were not compatible but made a commitment to co-parent their three children together with respect and love. Teri was able to share a period of her life with her soulmate, Anthony M. “Tony” Vivenzo, Sr. Their success was based on being best friends and her heart truly belonged to him. They were blessed with two additional children to their family. His passing in 2022 changed Teri’s life, and she missed him and the moments that they proudly shared. As a CNA at local care facilities, Teri was excellent in her commitment to provide care and support to her patients. In this most recent time, she loved her volunteer work; her main ambition was always to help others in their struggles, because she knew where their pain was coming from. Teri was a voracious reader and always had a book in her hand, preferring a hard copy. She loved to get lost in a romance novel. She had a mind that retained unique facts, and often brought them up in conversation in only a way that Teri could. She and her son Caleb often challenged one another and were great at bantering about any given subject matter. Teri was mischievous and fun loving, and was gregarious with her siblings during her youth. Teri was a bright light and genuinely so sweet, she was never interested in bringing harm or bad karma to anyone. She was very empathic and her sensitivities to anyone’s hardships gave her an open door to show her graces. Teri desired to look her best and was a real artist when it came to make up. She had the confidence to wear her hair in whatever color or cut she pleased, and she wore her eyewear with great comfort. She possessed such inner beauty; this was one of her truest blessings. You would often find she wore her mom’s rings with such pride and upon her arm were always inspirational bracelets. A loyal soul and a bit stubborn, Teri found a way to be non-confrontational, but still get her opinion across. She had a sassy side and a giggle that belonged to her mom. Her free spirit allowed her to go anywhere the wind blew her and she embraced the twilight. Her dad was always in her corner. In any time of need, he wanted to be her hero and make her life easier and more comfortable. That was a woman who knew the unconditional love of her dad. Some of her favorite activities and hobbies included painting, especially landscape scenes. Her boys say she was a creative cook, and they remember as children how they would gather, and they would all draw. Cuddling with her children just fulfilled her heart. These are memories they will treasure forever. She loved music and kept an open mind, allowing her to enjoy music from any genre. She always dreamed of traveling, but life got in the way... She was true to herself and tried to gain perspective from her unique experiences. The circle of life truly involved her family and she put her best energies to those relationships. Going back to her late dad, Bobby’s story, it was those backyard summer cookouts and her love of her family, and those special “hamburgs” that her dad would cook for her. Teri had a spiritual mind and believed in a higher power. She saw all living beings as divine... nothing can stop a dreamer. Teri and her father, Bobby, passed on the same day and are inevitably together; she leaves behind her precious children with hopes that they will never forget her, Michael Sigal and Madison Butler, Caleb Sigal, Jocelyn Sigal, Sofia Vivenzo, and Anthony Vivenzo, Jr. her; grandson, Atlas Michael, and the anticipation of Michael’s second child in February. Her loss has broken the hearts of her siblings, Emily O’Neil, the memory of her cherished brother, James A. “Jimmy” Taurisano (December 10, 2018), Rosie Taurisano, Melissa Taurisano, Deanna Taurisano and her wife Curry, and Stephanie Taurisano and her fiancé, Konnor Karram. Additionally, she will live on in the hearts of her nieces and nephews, Alyssa, the late Justin (2017), Anthony, Salvatore; Hannah; Nito, Vanessa, and Elicya; a great-nephew, Nova; cousins, Alan Swinegar, Casie and Christopher Johnson; Kelly Pellegrino and fiancé, Chris Colvin, and Cosmo and Vinci Pellegrino, III; aunts and uncles, Anne Marie and Arthur Swinegar, Donna and Cosmo Pellegrino; Terry Leisenring and the late Linda, Robert and Enid Leisenring, and Bruce and Frances Leisenring; and additional cousins, Chris and Richard Mcculley-Cabotaje, Joan and John Hatfield, and their families. Teri had positive friends who savored in the seasons of their mutual lives, Sandra Chrystie, a forever friend, Alicia Marie Guzman, who shared childhood to adulthood with great sensitivity, Amy Macri, they were the type of friends who didn’t need to talk every day, but when they communicated, it was as if they never missed a beat, and Robyn House, who will miss her presence in this world. She was further predeceased by her mother-in-law, Shirley A. (Fanelli) Vivenzo Mario, and uncle, Michael A. Taurisano, Jr. Visitation for both Teri and her father, Robert will be held on Monday, January 29, 2024 from 1:00-2:30 p.m. at Mary, Mother of our Savior Parish, Lourdes Campus, 2222 Genesee St. Teri’s and Robert’s Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of their Lives will commence at 3:00 p.m. at the Church. In lieu of floral offerings, memorial contributions in Teri’s honor may be made to the family, enabling them to perpetuate the well-being of her children; envelopes will also be made available at the service.

Teri Taurisano

July 25, 1980 - January 17, 2024