Obituary of Theresa M. LoMonaco

Theresa M. (Giordano) LoMonaco, aged 87, passed away in her home in Birmingham, Alabama on June 22, 2023.  

The youngest of fourteen children, Terry was born and raised in Philadelphia, moved to Brooklyn upon her marriage to the love of her life, Leon, in 1959, and eventually moved to their beloved house in Staten Island where she watched her family grow for over 20 years.  In 2000, she and Leon retired to a charming house in Greenbriar at Whittingham in Monroe Township, New Jersey to be closer to family and remained there until finally settling in Birmingham in 2012 with her daughter, Nina.

Terry earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education from Brooklyn College and was a popular and no-nonsense middle school teacher in Brooklyn, retiring from Mark Twain Intermediate School in 1999 where her contributions to the English, Drama, and Library departments left a lasting impact.

Education was in her bones, and prior to and after retirement, Terry dedicated her free time to volunteering extensively in the church, as well as teaching catechism on Sundays to various ages of children, in both the Nativity of Our Lord Church in Monroe and at St. Mark the Evangelist Church in Birmingham.  She was also an esteemed member of both church choirs. Her resonating and unique presence graced the tenor section, the only woman to do so, and she loved practicing her parts early and loudly on Saturday mornings to the delight of her visiting (and sleeping) grandchildren.

Terry was an avid reader and fostered a love of reading, writing, and the arts in her children and grandchildren.  She enjoyed traveling with her husband and telling stories about their exploits.  She also loved to cook and bake. No one, not a single visitor, ever left her house hungry. “Mangia!” she’d say the moment anyone stepped in the kitchen and eat they did. No one dared refuse her. 

Above all else, Terry made people laugh just by being herself, and she cherished creating loving memories for her family to hold forever.

Terry was preceded in death by her husband, Leon J. LoMonaco in 2009, her son, John LoMonaco in 2021, her daughter-in-law, Donna LoMonaco in 1995, and son-in-law, Joel Tarpley in 1997.

She is survived by her son—Paul LoMonaco and his wife, Madeline, of Blairstown, her daughter Nina Tarpley, of Birmingham and her son James LoMonaco and his wife, Gina, of Manalapan. She also leaves behind her daughter-in-law, Nancy LoMonaco of Monroe Township, and her twelve grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all who she affectionately called “Harry” when she couldn’t keep them straight.  *It should be noted that none of her family members are named Harry.  She also would have wanted us to acknowledge her beloved, spoiled King Charles cavalier, Bentley, who will miss her as much as the rest.  She leaves behind a lasting legacy that will live on through the love she shared.

Visitation will be from 9:00am to 11:00am on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, Inc. 205 Rhode Hall Rd. Monroe Twp., NJ 08831, 732-521-0555.  Funeral services will begin at 11:00am from the funeral home.  A funeral liturgy will be 11:30am at Nativitiy of Our Lord RC Church 185 Applegarth Rd. Monroe Twp., NJ 08831 followed by Entombment in Holy Cross Burial Park Mausoleum, South Brunswick Twp.

In lieu of flowers and for those who desire, memorial contributions may be made in Theresa's name to either the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, www.autisticadvocacy.org, or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org.