Theresa Catherine Polillo Cech was born in the beautiful mountain village of Spezzano Piccolo, Italy, on February 20, 1929. At the age of five, her mother Filippina DiCicco Pollilo packed up Theresa and her older sister Marietta, boarded the train to Naples, and from there set off by boat to join Filippina’s husband Luigi Polillo, who had immigrated to America and then sent for his family. On this great adventure, Theresa hung over the rails of the boat, looking at the curling tops of the waves that looked to her like piglets, calling out “Porcelle! Porcelle!” while her seasick Mother and sister attempted to pull her back from the edge.
The Polillo family settled in Livingston, Montana, where Theresa grew up and attended high school. After graduation, she set off for Spokane to enroll in a comptometer class: the comptometer was the first commercially successful mechanical calculator, and when Theresa returned home, she used it in her work in the business office at the Northern Pacific Railroad. Not long after this, Theresa went to the Livingston branch of Hennessy’s Department store to buy window blinds. The tall, handsome young clerk who waited on her was James Cech; while the blinds were actually perfectly acceptable, Theresa kept finding that something was wrong with them which required her to return multiple times to the store to seek James’ help in replacing them. They were married on July 26, 1953.
In the early years of their marriage, two marvelous and life-shaping things happened: Jim was promoted to work in the Butte Hennessy’s store, and friends invited them to go camping at Seeley Lake. In Butte, Theresa and Jim made wonderful lifelong friends singing in the choir of St. Ann’s Catholic Church; at Seeley, they began an annual tradition of camping with family and friends that continues to this day.
In 1976, as the Anaconda Copper Company and the economy of Butte began to falter, Theresa moved to Billings, where Jim finished his career as the regional CFO of Hennessy’s. Theresa made friends wherever she went: in Billings, her friendships expanded to include her Bingo buddies, friends from Christian Women’s Brunch, and eventually the Wellington Place crew, including Jeanne and Bob Zupan and Betty Stonehouse, with whom she shared walks and jokes and an enmity for the rabbits who ate their flowers and tomatoes. Theresa loved gardening, and her tomatoes were enormous and legendary.
Theresa was famous for her cooking, especially for the Italian treats passed on from her Mother’s family – Italian cookies, a uniquely delicious spaghetti sauce that no one has yet duplicated, and polenta among other delicacies. In her final years in Helena, she enjoyed entertaining new friends in the Red Hats group, and sharing food, coffee, and fellowship with her neighbors.
Theresa is mourned by hundreds of friends; by her sons, Michael James (Meg) of Bozeman, Jeffery Lee (Karen) of Helena, and John Edward (Victoria) of Helena; by her grandchildren, Erin (Heidi Sherick), Ryan (Rye), Molly (Eric Leidinger), Eric (Jennie Berry), Amanda, and Isaiah; by her great-grandson Summit; dear nieces and nephews including Connie (Mike) Collins and Tom Ricci; and by “honorary children” William and Carla Quinn of Butte.
Those awaiting her include her husband, James Bernard Cech; her sister and brother-in-law, Marietta and Louie Ricci; and her brother and sister-in-law, Phil and Sharon Polillo.
Theresa died on November 18, 2016, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, surrounded by her loving family. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Thomas Weiner and the staff of St. Peter’s oncology unit for their kind and professional care; to her physician Dr. Andrew Gilbert, and to Father Richard Francesco of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Helena.
The family with receive friends from 3:30 with a vigil service starting at 5:00p.m. on Sunday November 20th at St. Mary Catholic Community, 1700 Missoula Avenue. A Funeral Mass will be 12:10 p.m. Monday November 21st at St. Mary Catholic Community with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall of the church. The burial service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday November 23rd at Calvary Cemetery in Livingston, MT. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Helena or the charity of your choice. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Theresa.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday November 20, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Vigil
5:00 p.m.
Sunday November 20, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Mass
12:10 p.m.
Monday November 21, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Following Mass
Monday November 21, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community Social Center
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday November 20, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Vigil
5:00 p.m.
Sunday November 20, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Funeral Mass
12:10 p.m.
Monday November 21, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Following Mass
Monday November 21, 2016
St. Mary Catholic Community Social Center
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
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Verna Waddington says
John and family…I was your Mothers caregiver a few years ago…I so enjoyed caring for her. What a lovely lady and loving person. Many wonderful memories. Please know my prayers are with all of you.
Tom and Darlene Hess says
Jeff and family, sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
Peggie Ligget says
We, in Billings at St. Pat’s, have missed her presence in our lives for the past few years. Am sorry that we have now lost her but am thrilled that her journey ended surrounded by her family! So many wonderful memories to hold on too!
Leslie Roche says
I am saddened to see this – was one of your parents’ renters in Billings 25 years ago. They were very kind and thoughtful landlords – my folks were in that business for many years, so I feel I know what I’m talking about…
I remember Terri saying at one time that they were more concerned about providing decent housing at affordable rates than charging an arm and a leg for rent. That has stuck with me all these years — it, and they, were appreciated!
May you all find peace and comfort in this time of loss…
Janean says
My sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Theresa.
The loss of our dear loved ones and dealing with the grief is one of the most difficult and distressing circumstances to cope with. What has helped me to cope with the loss of a loved one is remembering that our loved one now safely rests in the memory of our grand creator Jehovah (Psalm 83:18) waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise hope of a resurrection found in the Bible at Acts 24:15 and at John 5:28,29.
By meditating on on these promises from God you can find real hope and strength to keep going. (2 Corinthians 1:3,4)
I hope these scriptures bring you some comfort.