Theresa Ann Letang

Theresa A. Letang, age 73, of Gibsonton, FL, passed away on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on September 1, 1946 in the Commonwealth of Dominica, the daughter of Ann (Abraham) and Joseph Charles. Devoted mother of Cordelle, Randy (Theresa), Stephen (Nicole) and Nicole. Loving grandmother of Sebastian, Greyson, Preston, Austin, Gabrielle, Aubry, Tristan, and Tyler. Sister of Michael, Julian, Alexander, Desmond, Ordelia, Katherine, Antonia, Gertrude, and pre-deceased by her two younger brothers. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Theresa was her family’s matriarch, the eldest daughter of ten children. She was known by her various nicknames’ “nurse” and “dada” by all who loved her, and respected her for her compassion, faith, joy of teaching and belief in the good in all people. When she and her husband decided to relocate their young family to the United States to provide a better future for their children, she relocated first, established a beachhead through nursing, and then a year later, brought her husband and three sons to Philadelphia from Dominica. In Philadelphia, she and her husband had a fourth child, the daughter that she had always wanted. This is where the new family’s journey of growth and faith began. Theresa continued to grow her nursing skills at hospitals throughout Philadelphia beginning at Einstein, then St Joseph’s, Magee Rehabilitation, Temple and many others. She and her family eventually moved to Washington Township, New Jersey as her children grew through high school and college. Theresa and her husband and some of their children eventually relocated to Florida to be closer to a warmer climate. Theresa’s family was her whole world. She delighted in babysitting her grandchildren. Holiday meals at Christmas and Thanksgiving were legendary, with family and friends traveling from far and wide to gather in her kitchen to help prepare traditional meals for the festivities.

Theresa was also a spiritual warrior, loved and cherished by everyone that she came across. She was known and respected by many and known as “Mom” by others. She was a spiritual counselor and responsible for inspiring life changes to many. Theresa was a compassionate spirit whose passion was caring for others. She volunteered at her church and worked as a nurse in free clinics in her free time. She did all this while caring for her family. It would be wrong to say that Theresa lost her battle with cancer because she never stopped fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined. When anyone else would have broken, Theresa stayed strong. Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly looks like. There was no quit in her.

Theresa was kind, selfless, loving and generous to all who knew her and she will be sadly missed.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am (EST), Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home and may also be viewed live on Hillsboro Memorial's facebook page at this time. Ten minutes prior to service time the facebook link will be added here. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm (EST), Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at the funeral home. Burial will be held in Hillsboro Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial donations be made to Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey Breast Cancer Research. Please make checks payable to CINJ-RUF and mail to: Rutgers University Foundation PO Box 193, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0193. Donations can also be made online at cinj.org/giving. Kindly indicate that the gift is in memory of Theresa A. Letang.