A longtime Collinsville educator who founded the chorus at Webster Elementary School was chosen as this year’s Italian Fest parade marshal, though dangerous heat kept the Collinsville High School Marching Band and other participants from joining the Sept. 19 procession, timestribunenews.com reported.
Theresa Delphine Ferrari Billy, 92, was represented along the parade route by a large photo carried by one of her great-nieces and by her image displayed on a vehicle windshield, according to timestribunenews.com. Heat indices exceeding 100 degrees prompted the decision for the marching band and others not to participate.
Ferrari Billy earned teaching credentials at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and spent 37 years in the education profession at Webster Elementary in Collinsville Community Unit School District 10, the publication reported. She also served 12 years on the Unit 10 Board of Education.
Born to Italian immigrants in 1934, she entered first grade without knowing English but advanced quickly enough to skip into third grade the following year, timestribunenews.com reported. She visited Italy nine times and remained fluent in Italian throughout her life.
For more information, visit timestribunenews.com.