Theresa Trotta

Theresa Trotta of Juno Beach, Florida, formally of Baldwin, N.Y. passed into eternity with our Lord on February 22, 2023. Retired Registered Nurse. Loving daughter of the late John and Anna Findley. Dear sister of the late John Findley, Jr. Devoted and beloved wife of the late Michele (Michael) Trotta, M.D. Loving mother of Anna Trotta Githens (John) of Juno Beach, Florida and Joseph Trotta (Tressa) of Maryville, TN. Cherished grandmother of John (J.P.), Brian and Andrew, as well as three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren through Joseph’s marriage. Theresa Anna Findley was born at home in Bronx, N.Y., to John and Anna Findley, December 20, 1929, a little light to the world during the year of the Great Depression. Her mother named her after St. Therese, “The Little Flower,” due to her great love for the saint. During her younger years Theresa’s mother was very sick, so she spent much of her time at her bedside, caring for her and bringing her anything she needed. Thus, her nursing vocation began with taking care of her own mother. At the tender age of 5, Theresa lost her mother. She was raised by her aunt and uncle and lived with her six cousins along with her father above Caputo’s, her family’s restaurant in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. She attended St. Ephrem’s Catholic Elementary School, PS 80, McKinley Junior High and Fort Hamilton High School. Theresa spent her days going to school, taking care of her younger cousins, cleaning the house and helping out in the restaurant. Theresa attended St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Brooklyn, where she met the love of her life and husband of 47 years. Prior to meeting her husband, Theresa wanted to join the Maryknolls and become a nun. As an intern, Michael came onto the floor and asked for some help with a patient. He was the first foreign doctor that came to that hospital and she enjoyed helping him on his rounds. They quickly became friends. She believed his coming into her life was a gift to her through her mother’s intercession since they met in the hospital where her mother had stayed when she was sick. After receiving her RN, Theresa worked at St. Mary’s, Bellevue, Central Islip and New York University Hospital, primarily in pediatrics, medicine and with psychiatric patients. She was also a school nurse in Coney Island and worked for a time as a nurse in Miami. Theresa attended to her patients with utmost care, patience and love. She believed nursing was her life’s vocation. She gave her all to everyone she served throughout her life. Even after retiring to take care of her children and family, Theresa never stopped being a nurse. Theresa attended not only to the physical needs of others, but also to their spiritual needs. After the death of her beloved husband in 2001, she became an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, North Palm Beach, Florida. For over twenty years she brought Holy Communion to the sick and homebound in private homes, nursing homes and hospitals. She walked into their rooms without hesitation, even if they were contagious, and would pray the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet at their bedside, holding their hand and often staying the night if a friend or family member was critically ill. If someone was in pain, Theresa did everything she could to help alleviate his or her pain. If someone was grieving, or lonely, or sad, she was there in an instant bearing gifts. She seemed drawn to people who were suffering, not out of dutiful hospitality, but in a sense like they were an extension of her, or part of her family. She truly felt their suffering. She was a loving mother, compassionate nurse, and loyal friend to everyone she met. If you were a friend of Theresa’s, she truly loved you with her whole heart. Being a friend of Theresa’s was a true blessing, and an even greater blessing to be her daughter, her son, or her grandchild. Throughout her life, Theresa was sustained by her great faith in God, her love of Jesus and the Blessed Mother. She radiated the love of Christ everywhere she went. She was open to God’s will in everything, even to the end she devoted her life to prayer and graciously offered up her suffering. She truly loved and lived her Catholic faith. Theresa was an immeasurable gift from God to our entire family. She was our rock, our guiding light, and our wellspring of love, all in one. But most of all, she was a true model of faith for us all and leaves behind a beautiful example for us to follow. Visiting hours will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, February 27, 2023, Taylor and Modeen Funeral Home, 250 Center Street, Jupiter, FL. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at St. Paul of the Cross Parish, 10970 Jack Nicklaus Dr., North Palm Beach, FL. A Memorial Mass will be held Friday, March 3, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Christopher’s Church, Baldwin, N.Y. prior to her burial at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. Theresa was actively involved in many ministries, such as Legion of Mary, National Christ Child Society, Right to Life, Dare 2 Care and St. Vincent de Paul. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the aforementioned organizations, or to one of the following that Theresa also held in high regard: St. Paul of the Cross, Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center, Hands Together for Haitians, Graymoor: Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Garrison, N.Y., EWTN or the St. Labre Indian School.

Theresa Trotta

December 20, 1929 - February 22, 2023