Obituary of Teresa Mary O'Boyle

Teresa M. O’Boyle

July 6, 1929 – October 19 2023

Teresa Mary O’Boyle, 94, of West Orange (formerly of Glen Ridge), NJ, passed away peacefully on Oct. 19, 2023. Teresa shared her wisdom and love with many throughout her lifetime, serving as a math teacher, computer programmer and, most importantly, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Teresa Gibbons was born on July 6, 1929 to Daniel and Julia (Murray) Gibbons in Belleville NJ. She was the youngest of three children, and remained close to her brothers John and Jim throughout her life. She attended Good Council High School in Newark, and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Caldwell College in 1951. After graduation, she taught junior high math in Teaneck, NJ.

She married David J. O’Boyle on June 26, 1954 and they were soon raising the first of their five children. Teresa postponed her teaching career during the early years of raising her family, but became engaged in volunteer work. She served on various committees at Caldwell College; helped to open and operate the library at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Bloomfield, NJ; served as a president of the St. Thomas Parish Council; and served as a Trustee of the Parish.

In 1971, Teresa returned to teaching math at Lacordaire Academy in Upper Montclair, NJ. She was popular with faculty and especially her students, despite her frequent surprise quizzes. After teaching high school math for several years, and having sent the last of her children to college, she decided to pursue a new career in computer programming. Encouraged by Dave, she enrolled in the Chubb Institute. After graduation she took a position with Medco, a mail order pharmaceutical company later acquired by Merck & Co. She enjoyed her programming career for more than 15 years, and was admired and relied upon by her colleagues for her ability to resolve system issues.

At home, Teresa was an avid gardener, seamstress, and cook. She loved doing anything with her hands. She refinished furniture, sewed everything from upholstery to prom gowns. She was an enthusiastic reader of biographies and history, and became a dedicated bridge player with her regular bridge group. The ladies enjoyed weekly bridge games while sharing pictures and tales of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In their later years Teresa and Dave traveled widely. But throughout their lives together, they loved entertaining family and friends, and loved music. Teresa loved singing and playing piano for the family. She and Dave nurtured their love for music in their children and grandchildren, encouraging practice and attending countless recitals.

Teresa was pre-deceased by Dave in 2009. She is survived by her brother James T. Gibbons, her children Mary O’Neill, Julia Donovan, Ellen McCahill, Elizabeth Goodwin and John O’Boyle, ten grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.