Jill Desiderio

The brilliant and beautiful, charming and charitable Jill Desiderio (née Solometo) passed away peacefully in her sleep just after midnight on Good Friday, April 3, 2026, at her home in West Chester, PA, shortly after her family wished her goodnight.

 Born in Lansdowne and raised in Ardsley, Jill was the fourth of five children born to Donald and Lawanda “Sally” Solometo. Her father “invented” the Outer Banks, sparking an annual tradition of a beach dotted with umbrellas and nights filled with laughter that only grew as their families did. Together, they all shared a passion for offbeat fun, creativity, and tiny things, which would pass on to her children. 

Jill attended Abington High School and graduating from Central Bucks West, when her family moved to Warrington, PA during her senior year. Jill enrolled at Penn State University, where she majored in Marketing, joining the many alumni in her extended and future family. 

After college, while working at MetLife Insurance, Jill would meet her future husband. It was no surprise that Frank Desiderio of West Chester fell in love so easily with her when a mutual friend set them up on a blind date. Shortly after, they realized Jill’s grandfather was Frank’s childhood mall Santa decades before they ever met and that they were destined to a long, happy marriage of adventure. They were engaged within a year’s time and started a family together outside of Downingtown. Having had three children, they moved to West Chester, where Jill absolutely loved her most important and fulfilling role as a mom and homemaker, frequently letting her babies frolic at the local parks, go out to lunch, do arts and crafts, or join her beloved pastime of shopping.

 Once the kids were all in school, Jill returned to the workforce as an aid for students with special needs at Downingtown East High School. Remaining in education, she worked as an administrator for Penn State’s College of Engineering at the Great Valley Campus, where she enjoyed a supportive, communal work environment until retiring to be with her family. And all the while, she continued to bring joy to her family whether via videos of seasonally-themed fireplaces to greet her children and their partners when they were home for the holidays or toys to greet her beloved grandchildren on their beds.

 She is survived by her husband, Frank; her three children, Frankie (Melissa), Sarah (Joseph), and Megan (Justin); her (soon to be) four grandchildren; and four siblings, Steven (Cheri), Lisa (Andrew), Lori (Tom), and Amy (Ric). 

Jill thanks her doctors, the staff, and especially her nurses for their excellent care and their gift of friendship for the past 10+ years. Thanks to them, she was able to enjoy many amazing experiences with her family, including Sanibel Island, the Outer Banks, Disney World, Phillies Spring Training, Rehoboth Beach, Italy, Ireland, and many a “mommom’s beach house” vacation rental. 

Memorials are being held privately. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are appreciated.