Teresa Maria Mello

Teresa was born on October 14, 1963, the seventh of nine children, to Louis and Stana Oven. She attended San Carlos Catholic School, where she graduated as Student Body President in 1978. She attended Santa Catalina School for Girls where she excelled at Creative Writing, graduating in 1982.

In 1987, Teresa graduated with a teaching credential from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. Teresa began her elementary school teaching career at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School in Oroville, California. In 1990, she moved to San Leandro where she taught at St. Felicitas Catholic School.

In 2002, Teresa’s health began to decline. Her illness progressed, leading to the end of both her seventeen-year marriage to David Mello as well as her teaching career. Teresa gained much comfort from the community she built at Assumption Catholic Church in San Leandro where she served as a cantor at Masses and Funerals and was described as having the voice of an angel.

In 2018, Teresa returned to Monterey, where she helped to care for her mother. Teresa was preceded in death by her father, Louis, who passed away in 1991, and her mother, Stana, who passed away in April 2026. Teresa is survived by eight siblings, Mark, Maria (William), Katherine, Sr. Anna, O.P., Andrew (Martha), Helen (Jeff), Veronika (Phil) and Kristina; as well as nineteen nieces and nephews and twenty-one grand nieces and nephews.

Teresa will be remembered for her unwavering faith in God, her sense of humor and smile, her love of organ music and singing, and her devotion to the Eucharist, Rosary and Daily Mass. She will be deeply missed.

Recitation of the Rosary will take place at The Paul Mortuary in Pacific Grove on Wednesday, July 29 at 7:00 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated the following day, July 30 at 10:00 AM at St. Angela Merici Church also in Pacific Grove.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Teresa’s memory to Catholic Charities East Bay, 433 Jefferson Street, Oakland, CA 94607.