Theresa Manzo

Theresa Manzo of Saddle Brook, NJ entered into eternal life on February 9th, 2026. Theresa was a native of Lyndhurst, NJ, but a longtime resident of Saddle Brook, NJ – where she raised her family after marrying the love of her life, the late, John Manzo Sr.

Theresa was a loving mother and is survived by her four children: Theresa Femano and her husband Thomas, Jeanne Murtha and her late husband Thomas, the late John Manzo Jr. and his wife Gail, and Nicholas Manzo and his former wife Linda. She is survived by her three grandchildren who she loved dearly, “more than they will ever know” in her own words: John E. Manzo and his wife Ashley, Michelle Manzo and her wife Tomasa, and Nicholas Manzo and his wife Lauren. She is also survived by her three great-grandchildren: Augustus and Aurora Manzo, and River Jay Manzo. She is also survived by her three loving siblings Nicholas Paolazzi (Diane), Valverdine Bagnuolo (Donald) and Ernest Paolazzi (Carol), as well as countless nieces, nephews and cousins – all of whom she coveted, as nothing was more important to her than family. She never missed an opportunity to celebrate a loved one with a card or a homemade birthday cake, or prepare a Sunday dinner of her famous, “roni’s and sauce”.

Theresa is predeceased by her parents, Nicholas and Catherine Paolazzi, as well as her husband John Manzo Sr. (1997), and her beloved son John Manzo Jr. (2024). She is also predeceased by her sister, Marie Greggi, and her two brothers, Rocco and Anthony Paolazzi.

Theresa was known by many as, “Mrs. Manzo”, due to her many years as a school teacher, where she taught generations of K-2nd graders how to read and write at, Mount Virgin and Most Holy Name Schools in Garfield, NJ. She was also an amazing seamstress, who made many wedding gowns and bridal party dresses, while being a mother, a homemaker and attending Montclair State University. In her retirement, she dedicated years of her life to volunteering at various food banks, one of which was the Community Food Bank of NJ, and remained an active member of the VFW of Wood-Ridge Ladies Auxiliary. To say that Theresa was known and loved by many is an understatement, anyone who has been outside with her knows that she often couldn’t leave her house without being recognized by one of her former students, their parents, a friend, a familiar face, or family member – her family takes comfort in knowing that her legacy and impact on those who she reached will live on well beyond her years on this earth.

Theresa was a devoted Roman Catholic, and was a parishioner for many years at the Most Holy Name Church in Garfield. Later in life, she became a parishioner at the Sacred Heart Church in Rochelle Park, NJ. She loved more than anything to spend time with her family - especially her grandchildren, where she would spend countless hours gracefully recounting rich stories of her life, growing up in Lyndhurst, shortly after the Great Depression. Theresa was known for being a bit of a historian in this regard, she loved to share her memories that will now be forever part of her legacy,and live on through her family. In her later days, she still loved to host Sunday dinners, would read the paper daily, watch her Jeopardy and Hallmark movies, and pray her Novena every single night before bed.

Theresa’s family will be receiving visitors at Kugler Funeral Home 311 5th Street in Saddle Brook, NJ for a viewing on Wednesday, February 11th, 2-4PM and 7-9PM. The Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, February 12th, at Sacred Heart Church in Rochelle Park, NJ at 10AM followed by entombment, at St. Mary’s Cemetery Mausoleum in Saddle Brook, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be offered in Theresa’s honor to, The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or The Community Food Bank of NJ.