With great sadness and peace, we share that Theresa Josephine (LoBello) Ward entered into eternal light with our Lord peacefully on the morning of March 9, 2025 surrounded in love at the age of 88 in Melbourne, Florida from natural causes that come with the blessing of a long life and aging.

Theresa was born on February 18, 1937 to Anna and John LoBello in Brooklyn NY. She grew up there with her brothers Anthony and Frankie.  Theresa would often reminisce about the days of their youth playing stoop ball, enjoying egg creams, going to the penny movies as well as riding the trolley cars and trains that their dad drove.  The kids thought they were lucky when they caught a train their dad was a motorman on to the beach in Coney Island.

After Theresa graduated from Samuel J Tilden High School in January of 1954 just before her 18th birthday.  She entered the workforce kick starting her career in banking where she met the love of her life, (Robert) Bob Ward and they began dating.  They became engaged when she was 18 and they married on September 15, 1957.  Theresa & Bob resided in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn surrounded by family and friends.  This is where they welcomed their first-born child, John (Johnny) Edward Ward on January 5, 1959.

In November of 1963 they bought their first home in Levittown Long Island. A 750 square foot Cape Cod with an unfinished attic. They resided on Penny Lane where many of their wonderful neighbors became lifelong friends to them and in time their kids.

In September of 1962 they were delighted in the birth of their second son, Stephen Robert. He was welcomed and wanted and brought more happiness to their home.   His birth filled their hearts with great joy which balanced the great heartache that they endured as Johnny became ill and incapacitated at a very young age.

Theresa and Bob faced the challenges of caring for a baby and all of Johnny's healthcare needs including exhausting every service and provider that could possibly help them help him. Theresa traveled for hours to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital to search for diagnoses and treatment for Johnny.  On October 9, 1964 they faced their greatest test of faith, one that they would never completely recover from, when they experienced the unimaginable loss of Johnny becoming our angel. This sorrow left an ache in their hearts that never faded.  Few challenges in life are greater than losing a child, yet together they faced the sorrow with incredible grace, courage and strength as they continued on in love and faith, although the loss would always remain a part of them, leaving them forever never the same. A piece of their hearts always remaining broken and with Johnny boy.

Theresa's life went on.  Laughter, love and the happiness of their toddler Stephen brought the light back into their lives by shining hope for the future in all that he did as he grew into a little boy.

In April of 1969, after years of believing their family had grown all it could, their daughter Barbara Anne was born on the 12th.

All was well and good on Penny Lane until one night in October of 1969 when armed men forced their way into Theresa and Bob's home. They held them hostage at gunpoint and used Bob, who was a bank manager at Franklin National Bank, for a bank heist the following morning.  This terrifying ordeal they too survived with courage and grace.

When the kids were younger, they encouraged them to go outside and play, to have fun with neighborhood friends, to be kind, just and loving to everyone. The years that followed Theresa and Bob watched the children grow into teens and young adults. They were active at their schools and in extra curriculars.  Always encouraging them to pursue their dreams and goals.

Theresa and Bob created a home where Stephen and Barbara's friends were always welcomed.  They encourage birthday dinners and cake for all who could attend, as well as welcoming everyone on any given day.  Sleepovers were a favorite of her daughter's and Theresa and Bob would treat her friends as their own, always making them feel welcomed and loved.  Even when they would stay up talking until day break.

The family enjoyed BBQs with friends and relatives, walks to Slate Lane Pool, housefuls of people at the holidays, Sunday dinners, block parties and card games.  They loved gardening and Theresa had a gift for house plants and flowers, and they filled her home and yard.

Theresa's cooking was fabulous, especially her sauce, however she had quite a reputation as a baker.  Every Christmas she baked lots of cookies, but always the Italian date and raisin filled cookies, cuccidati, known in her family as "Wochies".  These were second to only her infamous crumb cake that was known to be fought over at family reunions, parties and social events of all kinds.

Theresa was always a loving mother and devoted homemaker.  For many years she was a volunteer religious education teacher, and she returned to the workforce part time when Barbara was in 6th grade at the Rectory in St. Bernard's Church where her daughter attended school.  This was somewhat to Bob's chagrin; however, Theresa always did what needed to be done. Times were tough, money was short, and she was going to help.  Telling Bob with love and respect, "there was nothing to discuss".  In time she returned to her Banking roots and became part of the IRA department of Green Point Savings Bank in Levittown, NY.

They watched Stephen graduate high school and become a painter.  They were very proud of his accomplishment of starting and running his own company for many years.

One of the greatest joys that Theresa and Bob shared together, was in 1991 watching Barbara walk the stage in Lincoln Center at her college graduation. This moment filled them with immense pride as she pursued her dreams and became the first family member to gain a degree in higher education.  This accomplishment was a testament to the love, support and work ethic that they gave their children.

In February of 1994 they officially retired and sold their house in Levittown.  They were off to new adventures and their dream home in Lost Lakes in Brevard County Florida. Thrilled to once again be close to their now adult children who already resided there.

Retirement was good to them.  They loved their new home and enjoyed taking walks, playing tennis, fishing at the lake, swimming, gardening and slowing down in all the right ways.  Sadly, this was short lived as Bob died unexpectedly in his sleep on August 13th of 1994 leaving Theresa a widow just weeks before Barbara's wedding.

Always resilient and a pillar of strength despite a new heartache of great grief she slowly rebuilt a new normal without her forever love and partner, without her "doity boid".

On October 15, 1994 she walked her daughter down the aisle and beamed with pride as she watched Steve and Barbara become man and wife. Theresa smiled as bittersweet tears rolled down her cheeks filled both with joy and loss.  Nothing would take away from this day, not standing there "alone" and not sewing unfinished bridesmaid dresses together just hours beforehand. Her heart may have carried the weight of Bob's absence, yet she stood proud and with unwavering grace that radiated love and admiration. A testament to the resilience of a woman who had faced continued challenges and loss yet always embraced life's most precious and ordinary moments no matter the obstacle. These traits along with love, kindness and compassion were instilled in her children and in time would be reflected in her grandsons.

In 1995 she relocated to a condo on the beach in Cape Canaveral, Florida.  Here she took solace in daily walks on the beach, returned to working part time and became involved in the bereavement ministry, and other ministries at Divine Mercy Catholic Church.

On January 12, 2000 Shawn Robert was born and she became a Grandma.  A title she was thrilled to finally hold. Becoming a grandparent, for the first time was one of Theresa's greatest joys that filled her with wonder, love, and the purest happiness. She beamed when she held him in her arms for the first time and experienced a new kind of love that knew no bounds. It was a love that deepened with time and every smile, laugh, hug and interaction.  That joy only grew as her family expanded with the arrival of Cameron Michael on October 9, 2001. Theresa's heart overflowed with unconditional love as she spent much of her time embracing the beautiful gift of watching her grandsons, the next generation, flourish and grow. Each of them, a precious blessing to her, adding more love, light, and laughter to her life. They were her new greatest loves and they brought her immense joy.  She enjoyed fussing over them as babies and taking them for wagon rides to the beach as toddlers.  In 2002 she moved to Melbourne, as now that there were two she just had to be closer to see them both more often. As they grew so did their precious relationships.  So many days together at "Grandma's pool", sporting events, musicals, Christmas pageants, school events and so much more ordinary and amazing days filled the years.

In 2018 she decided it was time to no longer live alone, and she moved in with Barbara, Steve, Shawn and Cameron.  She became all the teens' Grandma and loved watching their comings and goings. Her grandsons were apples of her eyes, and this new arrangement gave her a front row seat to their everyday lives.  They all shared the joys, challenges, ups and downs, and happiness together for the next seven years under one roof. She shared cookies with Geo and spoiled the kitties. Whenever the animals, or kids "misbehaved" a little they were reminded not to be a "rutta" or a "freshy".  Theresa was an avid reader. An amazing crafter who crocheted beautiful blankets, sweaters and shawls. After she retired the second time, she took up painting as a new hobby and was quite the artist. Theresa enjoyed creating works of art for her family and friends and loved doing landscapes.  She would fill the house with the delicious scents of homemade sauce and meatballs. She encouraged the boys to enjoy simple pleasures like a hot cup of coffee in the morning or a big Sunday brunch. Truly teaching them and reminding others the value of slowing down and savoring the moment and taking in life's simple joys.  It was never just about the coffee, or breakfast or Sunday dinner—it was about love, tradition, and the memories made along the way.

Theresa had been on "borrowed time" since 2007 when she had emergency surgery that the doctor's told her daughter that "the odds were she wouldn't survive". No surprise, she beat those odds.  Years later, after a fall caused by fainting from A fib, she broke her neck in 2021, after spending countless hours in PT relearning to walk, she again rallied and won.  Theresa was a woman who believed when it was your time to go you would go, and it wasn't yet her time.

He "goal" had been to see her grandsons grow up and then it was expanded to seeing them graduate high school, which she did with unyielding pride in 2018 for Shawn and then 2020 for Cameron.

In 2022, Theresa added heart issues that were part of aging to her health concerns. She was told without surgery. She would probably have about 18 months.  Theresa decided she had had enough of hospitals and she was at peace with letting nature take its course and have God's will be done.  Once again, she defied the odds and blest her family with three more years of love and memories.

During her last months, Theresa was at peace with going to be with our Lord and be reunited with those whom she loved that entered His kingdom before her.  She spent time with her family and enjoyed phone calls from relatives.  She was a great source of strength and support to her brother, Anthony, in New York, spending time talking, sharing memories, listening and encouraging him during his illness.  Until her last days she always sought to care for those she loved with great kindness and unending love.  The week before she entered into eternal life, she enjoyed a perfect birthday celebration with her son in law, Steve and her niece, Judy. They brought home take out from one of her favorite places, Red Lobster and enjoyed a rich chocolate cake together complete with  candles and singing. She said, "it was the perfect celebration".

With a heart overflowing with unconditional love, Theresa was a daughter, sister, wife, friend, aunt, mother and grandma, whose strength never wavered, whose kindness knew no end, and whose faith guided her through all of life's joys and challenges. She was always there to support and encourage those she loved.  She faced each day with courage, embracing family, friends and strangers with a warmth, kindness and compassion that could not be measured in words alone. Her presence was a source of comfort, her love a foundation of strength, and her spirit an enduring light in the lives of all who knew her. Though she is no longer with us, the depth of her love will forever remain in the hearts she touched. Her memory will live in all who loved her and as they love and live as she did and embody all the goodness that Theresa brought to this world and their lives.

Theresa was preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert S. Ward, her eldest son, Johnny Ward, and her parents, John (Giovanni) LoBello and Anna (LoPinto) LoBello and grandparents, Francisco and Rose LoPinto and Antonio and Josephine LoBello.  She is also preceded  by her sisters and brothers in "love" (law), Joan and Joe Lecomte and Edward and Terri Ward and her nephew, Joe Lecomte Jr., and nephew in "love" Kent DeVault. As well as many greatly loved and missed aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her daughter Barbara Ward-Finneran and her husband, Steve Finneran, her cherished grandsons, Shawn Robert Finneran and Cameron Michael Finneran, and her son, Stephen Ward.  Theresa is also survived by her brothers and her sisters in "love", Anthony LoBello, (Snjezana LoBello), Frank LoBello and (Susan LoBello), as well as by her loving nieces and nephews; Jean (Neil) Terrano, Judy DeVault, Deanna (Bill) Shoemaker, Lisanne (Peter) LoBello, Dorian Ward, Anthony (Lori) LoBello Jr., Jamie (Angela) Lecomte, Johnny LoBello, Terry (Mia LaBerge) Ward, Jessica (Ozzie) Rodriguez, and Brian (Lindsay) LoBello as well as by many great nephews, nieces and cousins.

A Celebration of life Mass will be held on Tuesday March 18, 2025.  Visitation will begin at 11am and the mass will be at 11:30am at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church at 3050 North Highway A1A Indialantic, FL 32903.

Services will be streamed, kindly use this link to join us:evt.live

A luncheon reception to follow at Arts For All Studio at 784 North Apollo Blvd., Melbourne, FL, 32935.

If you cannot be with us in person we ask for your presence in thoughts and prayers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society at Holy Name of Jesus or your local chapter in her memory. Or donations can be made to Arts for All Studio where a scholarship fund will be created in Theresa's name for neurodiverse adults and children who want to participate in the arts. The creation of this scholarship is to honor Theresa's pride in the studio's programs for neurodiverse individuals as this was so close to her heart as she would have loved for her beloved Johnny Boy to have opportunities like these.  You may contact the studio directly for more information or Zelle information.  Kindly write in memory of Theresa Ward in the memo on checks.