Theresa Celia, 87, of Phillipsburg, died Tuesday, April 30, 2002 in her home.

She was a former sewing machine operator for the Northampton Pants Co., Easton.

Born January 3, 1915 in Phillipsburg, she was the daughter of the late Antonio and Rosaria (Barbuto) Piperata.

She was a member of St. Philip and St. James Catholic Church, Phillipsburg.

She and her husband, Ralph Celia observed their fifty-third wedding anniversary February 19th.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Toni E. Colello of Hackettstown; two brothers, Peter of Pohatcong Twp., and Nicholas of Phillipsburg and two grandchildren. Three brothers, Frank, Dominick and Joseph all died earlier.

Funeral services will begin at 9:00 a.m. Friday in the Noto-Wynkoop Funeral Home, 289 South Main St., Phillipsburg, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Philip and St. James Catholic Church, 426 South Main St., Phillipsburg. Burial will be in the parish cemetery, Greenwich Twp., NJ. A calling hour will be held from 8:00 a.m. until time of services Friday in the funeral home.