Theresa Hettinger

Theresa Hettinger of Mineola, NY, born March 29, 1946, to John and Mary DelBalso in Brooklyn, NY, was suddenly called into the Lord’s arms on December 12, 2024. She was a devoted wife to her loving husband, Frank, and loving mother to her three children, Jeffrey, Gregory, and Jennifer, and their respective spouses, Beth, Kelly, and Johnny. She was a grandmother who doted on her four grandchildren, Evan, Aaron, Charlotte, and Olivia. Theresa is now reunited with her parents and brother Frank in Heaven.

Theresa was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up with a large and constantly expanding family of aunts, uncles, cousins, their children, and grandchildren. After moving to Deer Park, Long Island as a young girl, she graduated high school and worked as a secretary at Grumman Engineering Company in Bethpage, NY, making friends she has kept to this day. Theresa met Frank, who also worked at Grumman, on a blind date, which led to them getting married on October 16, 1971. They first lived in Roslyn Heights, Long Island. Theresa retired from Grumman in 1975 to start their family with the birth of their first son Jeffrey. Subsequently in 1977, Theresa, Frank, and Jeffrey moved to Mineola upon the birth of their second son Gregory, followed by the birth of their daughter Jennifer in 1980. Theresa and Frank have lived in the same house in Mineola for the past 47 years.

Theresa took special joy as a homemaker and mother to her three children and then four grandchildren. She dedicated countless days to the service of Corpus Christi Church in Mineola and its community of family and friends, especially the Catholic Daughters of America. She worked part-time as a receptionist in the Corpus Christi Church rectory office and dedicated 30 years of volunteer service with the diocese catechetical ministry in their religious education program. Theresa also enjoyed her many wonderful vacation trips with Frank, as well as with her entire family.

Those who knew Theresa, Terry to many, knew her as an angel with the kindest, most patient heart. Supportive, understanding, loving, always with a beautiful smile, laugh, and kind word. She was the heart of her family and community, whom everyone looked up to and aspired to be because of the example she set.

Theresa’s personal joys were rooted in the joy of others. Baking muffins, cakes, and cookies because they would delight the kids and adults alike. Cooking big meals, making sure there was something on the table for everyone to enjoy, and always extra to take home. Creating chocolate pop favors (in the hundreds!) and chocolate-covered pretzels to make special occasions that much more special. Doing arts and crafts, playing, and having sleepovers with her grandchildren was something that made her glow even more. Theresa showed us all what a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend should be, and we are forever grateful and blessed for the love she left us to carry forward.

In lieu of flowers:

Memorials appreciated to the Mineola Chapter of the Catholic Daughters of America on Theresa's behalf can be made out to "Court Immaculata #444," then mailed to the Corpus Christi Church Rectory at 155 Garfield Avenue, Mineola, NY 11501.

Attn. MaryAnn Burns.