Teresa Palermo Trost, 98, passed away sadly on April 11, 2024 after a long battle with dementia, with her daughter by her side.
She was a longtime resident of Le Grand, CA and recently moved into Lamerson Home Care in Atwater.

Teresa was born in Los Banos, October 18, 1925, daughter of Vincenzo and Isabella Palermo. She attended local schools. After graduating she went to work at Eagle Field in Firebaugh during the war from 1945 to 1947. She was the very "first" and only licensed woman airplane mechanic. After the closing of Eagle Field in 1947, Teresa went to work as a dental Assistant for Dr. Miano in Firebaugh.

In 1950, she was married and had 3 children, Clifford, Jim and Isabel, who she raised lovingly. In 1966, Teresa became a single mother and in 1971 she got her realtors license to be a broker. She went to work for Stahl Realty in Merced, in the same year, the Merced Board of Realtor's awarded her "The Salesman of the Year", what an accomplishment for her.

She also worked for Deal and Prine Construction of Merced as a bookkeeper. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Bob Trost and they were married in 1974.

Teresa loved to play Bridge (cards), crochet, knit, sew and go on cruises. She loved to go to Reno or Lake Tahoe to play slot machines and would camp on one until it paid.

Teresa belonged to the Merced Board of Realtors, Los Banos Golden Agers, and the Merced-Mariposa Cattlemen's Association "Cowbelles", and was named Cowbelle of the Year in the 1960's.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Bob Trost; son Cliff Reese; brothers: Dominic, Frank and Danny Palermo; nephew Jerry Palermo. Beloved cat Dolly and beloved Dog Benson.

Teresa is survived by her daughter Isabel Reese and son Jim Reese; grandson James Reese, Jr.; niece Shelley (Ken) Gomes; and many loving cousins and many wonderful friends.

Services will be held Thursday, April 18, 2024. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 10:00 a.m., and the funeral mass will begin at 10:30 a.m.; burial will follow at the Los Banos District Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bristol Hospice of Merced, 374 E. Yosemite Ave, #222, Merced, CA 95340.

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