Margaret Ann (Bononno) Tseffos

Margaret Ann Tseffos, 77, of Tempe, Arizona, and formerly of Racine went home to see her family on Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, surrounded with love. Margaret Ann was a sweet, elegant and loving woman who carried on her family's tradition of sharing that love with others.

She was the proud daughter of Rose and Anthony Bononno. Her brother Paul, known as Sonny, was her best friend growing up. As a child she lived in a neighborhood with relatives from both sides of her family and was influenced by her mother, grandmothers and aunts. She loved to tell the stories of those days - walking to the Main Street theatre as a five-year-old with Sonny and balancing on the bridge, getting her two front teeth knocked out playing baseball and spending afternoons with her cousins at Wrigley Field. She described a wonderful childhood and how she thought she had the best of everything including the custom ice skates her father had made for her.

She loved being a Horlick High cheerleader, class of '50, and was proud that her daughter became one as well. She was the luckiest in love, having met and married the "little hot shot," Nick Tseffos, who absolutely adored her. The last birthday card he sent her read, "For your birthday and for birthdays yet to come. My love for you is endless." When they danced together, many got off the dance floor to watch them jitterbug. She lovingly cared for her husband when he became sick and comforted her children. When he passed in 1990, their love never ended. He hoped she would never date again and she didn't.

She gave unconditional love and so much of herself to her three children, Nick, Steve and Gina, who cared deeply for her. She followed her son Steve to Arizona and built a new life caring for her mother, Rose. She blossomed in Arizona and learned to love the desert. She was a caregiver to her mother and father until they passed and never complained. Margaret loved the music of her era and taught her children to love music as well.

She had a special love for her eight grandchildren, Ali, Nick, Cassi, Drew, Al, Shelby, Aria and little Elyse. She celebrated all of their milestones with pride and great excitement. So many of the family's cherished memories took place at her northwoods cabin, passed down from her parents. She called it, "my favorite place in the world." Margaret loved to travel and spent an extended time in Italy with her cousins. She was happiest when her extended family, especially her nieces and nephews, were with her. Her memory will forever be cherished by her family and those who loved her.

She survived by her three children, eight grandchildren, her loving son-in-law and daughter-in-laws, Karen, Andy and Dina; her caring sister-in-law, Anita Bononno and her children, Rick, Cindy, Dan, and Lori; cousins, aunts and her special friends, Salvatore and Sandy Consiglio of Arizona.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie St., on Friday, October 2, 2009, at 10 a.m. with Father Cyprian Consiglio officiating. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Hwy 32. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the funeral home on Thursday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and at church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888