Teresa F. Griffin

July 15, 1935 - January 27, 2022

Teresa F. Griffin, 86 years old of Toms River, passed away peacefully January 27, 2022, in the loving presence of her children. Teresa, known as “Terry” to her friends and family, was born in Brooklyn and had also resided in, Connecticut, and Long Island, before retiring to Greenbriar Woodlands, a community in Toms River, NJ 26 years ago. After graduating Prospect Heights High School she was the Executive Assistant to the vice president of The Reuben H Donnelley Corporation prior to taking on the full-time position of homemaker, raising her two children. She then re-entered the professional arena as a bookkeeper for a local accountant for several years before finishing her career with McGladrey & Pullen LLP. Terry is predeceased by Michael, her husband of 51 years, parents Sergio and Dorotea Rafanelli, and her brothers Giovanni and Pasquale. Surviving are her son Michael and daughter-in-law Bernice, daughter Michele, sisters Martha Pisciotti and Irene Cuoco, and her cherished grandsons Michael, Matthew, and Daniel. Terry was a warm generous soul who enjoyed volunteering within the St Luke RC Church community, her parish for 26 years. She was commissioned and served as an extraordinary minister, was a member and past treasurer of the Rosary Alter Society and belonged to the groups of Marian Advocates and Rosary Makers. For several years, Terry would pray The Rosary with residents of area nursing homes. Within her Greenbriar Woodlands community, Terry belonged to the groups of Outreach and The Women’s Club serving as past treasurers for both, as well as being a member of The Garden Club and the Briartones community choir. She and her husband, Michael, were trained and certified in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator and volunteered for the community’s First Responders Group which would answer neighbor’s calls with potential cardiac problems, until professional help arrived. Participating in various sports groups in Greenbriar brought Terry wonderful enjoyment, many laughs, and special memories. Despite taking up tennis later in life, she truly loved playing, doing so year-round. She also enjoyed bocce, “goofy” golf, table tennis, shuffleboard, and Stretch and Tone. Terry cherished doing activities with dear friends including cards, Rummikub, and MahJong. Visiting will be Tuesday, February 1, 2022, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home 2482 Church Rd., Toms River. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 9:15 AM at St. Luke RC Church, 1674 Old Freehold Rd., Toms River, NJ. Prior to mass, those wishing to go to the funeral home should arrive at 8:15 AM. Entombment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital