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Carol Lee Sinnott Imperatrice, 55, of Edgmont, a former health-care company executive and teacher

Carol Lee Sinnott Imperatrice, 55, of Edgmont, a former health-care company executive and teacher, died Thursday, March 8, of breast cancer at Riddle Memorial Hospital.

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carol L. Imperatrice, 55
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Carol Lee Sinnott Imperatrice, 55, of Edgmont, a former health-care company executive and teacher, died Thursday, March 8, of breast cancer at Riddle Memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Imperatrice grew up in Olney and Harleysville and graduated from Souderton Area High School.

She earned a bachelor's degree in 1978 from St. Joseph's University, where she received the French award. She had spent her junior year at the University of Montpellier, France.

After graduating, she worked in the furniture-leasing business and then in the home-health industry. She was chief operating officer of Pennsylvania Home Health Care in Bryn Mawr when she left in 1985 to have a family.

She and her husband, Rocco P. Imperatrice III, a lawyer, met as undergraduates at St. Joseph's and married in 1980.

Mrs. Imperatrice was active on fund-raising committees at Episcopal Academy. A talented designer, she made costumes for student and parent theatricals at Episcopal and made costumes for the Marple Newtown Players.

She helped organize social events for the Delaware County Bar Association and in 2004 was hostess and chef at the association's Italian Night for more than 100 people.

An ardent Phillies fan, Mrs. Imperatrice never missed opening day and was present at every home playoff game of the 2008 championship season, her husband said.

As a member of the Alliance Française, she served as a greeter at the 2011 Philadelphia International Flower Show, where the theme was "Springtime in Paris."

In 2009, she made a return visit to Montpellier, France. She spoke French so fluently and with so little accent, townspeople mistook her for Belgian or Swiss, her husband said.

Mrs. Imperatrice taught French as a substitute for a semester at Bishop Shanahan High School. She was scheduled to receive a master's degree in education from Immaculata University this year and then hoped to return to Shanahan, her husband said.

In June 2010, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her grandmother had died of the disease, as had her mother and two aunts before they were 40, he said.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Imperatrice is survived by a son, Rocco IV; a daughter, Annie; a brother; and two sisters.

Friends may call from 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at O'Leary Funeral Home, 640 E. Springfield Rd., Springfield, and from 10 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, at SS. Simon & Jude Roman Catholic Church, Routes 3 and 352, West Chester.

Donations may be made to the French Department, Bishop Shanahan High School, 220 Woodbine Rd., Downingtown, Pa. 19003.