Theresa M. Portela

Theresa M. Portela, 83, of Red Bank, passed away on June 18, 2019. She was born in New York, New York, to the late Michael and Marie (Montano) Bonelli. She was raised in Astoria, Queens. She graduated from St. James Nursing School in Newark. Theresa was a registered nurse at Christopher-Columbus Hospital in NYC where she met her loving husband of 60 years, Dr. Jaime Portela. Together they lived and raised their family in Bayonne, NJ. Later in life they enjoyed their retirement together in Aventura, Florida before relocating to Red Bank. Theresa was an active member of St. Henry’s Roman Catholic Church in Bayonne where she faithfully served as a Eucharistic Minister and served on the Church Council. She had a passion for cooking and reading. Theresa enjoyed travelling with her husband and making memories with her family and friends. Above all she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was the heart of her family. She had a smile and laugh that could light up a room and will be dearly missed.  

Surviving is her beloved husband, Jaime, her loving children Marie and her husband Mike, Joseph and his wife Ruth, Anayda “Annie”, James and his wife Teresa, Michael and his wife Janet, Julie and her husband Phil, Claire, her 16 cherished grandchildren, her sister Margaret, and her brother Francis and his wife Janet.  She is predeceased by her son Gerard, her son in law Mark and brother in law Charles.

Visitation will be held at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701 on Thursday June 20, 2019 from 4-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday June 21, 2019 at 10 a.m. at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Red Bank. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent in Theresa’s memory to Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave #203, Roseland, NJ 07068. 

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