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February 3, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 12-1 and 2-5 PM.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 between visiting hours and at the funeral home. The Mass will begin at 1:00 PM. Interment will take place in the Philippines.
Teresa B. Ponsica, age 55, of Haskell, passed into eternal rest on Monday, February 3, 2014 – the same day as her daughter Grace’s birthday. She was in the comfort of her home with her family, lovingly standing by her side.
Teresa was born in Cebu, the oldest city in the Philippines. She was the fifth of nine children born to Isabelo, Sr. and Augustina Lopez Barcenilla. Though her parents were both professional educators, life for Teresa and the people of her homeland was often a financial struggle. Teresa often shared her account of growing up, walking to school in inferior quality shoes because that was all her parents could afford. The walk to school was long and rough and Teresa’s shoes quickly fell into disrepair. She remembered feeling sad in her heart about this situation until one day, upon seeing a poor person with no feet, her feelings turned to thankfulness in her heart, realizing how blest she still was!
Teresa graduated from St. Catherine’s Elementary School and High School in Carcar. She went on to pursue a degree in nursing at South Western University in Cebu City, graduating in 1980. As a young woman of twenty-two years, Teresa launched her career as a registered nurse with her first job at Camotes-Laoc Medical Clinic in Sibonga Cebu. While working there, she spent every Thursday at a field clinic fifteen kilometers away in Mantalongon. The field clinic was across the street from a house where a young man named Nicolas Ponsica lived. From his house, Nick, as he was known, saw the beautiful nurses that came to work at the field clinic. One day he introduced himself to Teresa and asked her if she would like to go for a ride in the sidecar of his Yamaha YA6 motorcycle. She accepted his offer and the two began dating. At that time, Nick was a rascal so it wasn’t unusual for Teresa’s mother to walk in and out of the room with great frequency when Nick came to visit Teresa at her parent’s house. They fell in love and on Saturday, July 15, 1984, Nick and Teresa exchanged their wedding vows at St. Catherine Church in Carcar. Teresa and Nick were blessed with their first of four children – a boy which they named Michael who was born in November, 1984. Michael was followed by two brothers: Ralph and Carlo, and a little sister Grace. All through the years that Teresa was having children, she continued to work full-time as a nurse, now at the Barili District Hospital. She worked hard, always striving to make a better life for her family, and she recalled many days, being pregnant and hitching a ride on the top of a chicken truck, just to get to work.
Despite her efforts, Teresa and Nick just didn’t have the opportunities they were looking for in the Philippines, so in 1989, Teresa came to the United States by herself, her daughter Grace less than a year old! While Nick took care of the kids at home in the Philippines, Teresa studied and took the test to earn certification as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. Two years later, Nick and the kids joined her and they began their reunited lives in a home in Haskell. Teresa’s first job was at the Lincoln Park Nursing Home, followed by employment at the Wanaque Convalescent Center. She ultimately held two nursing positions working every day from 3-11 PM at the Lakeland Health Care Center in Haskell and from 12-8 AM at the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morristown. In the mornings, she always arrived home with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step!
Teresa’s hard work paid off and helped to pay for family vacations or vacations just with her honey Nick to Disney Land, Cancun, Bahama Islands and Caribbean cruises to name a few. On the weekends, she liked to escape to Atlantic City to strengthen her biceps on the slot machines! On the home front Teresa loved to cook and host friends and family in her home.
Her faith in God was very important and she was a faithful parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes. Despite her efforts to live healthy, Teresa’s body became afflicted with lung cancer. Her mortal battle is over and her family has found peace in knowing that her eternal life with her Lord has begun.
Teresa touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was known by many coworkers to be kind and a pleasure to work with. She was equally good to her family. Her spirit of generosity overflowed from her heart of thankfulness for the many blessing she felt she received in her life. She expressed that generosity by sending money to several of her nieces and nephews back in her Philippine homeland so that they could receive an education, enabling them to become registered nurses like herself. She was also moved to share much of God’s blessing to her with St. Isidore Parish in the Philippines.
Teresa will be remembered as a loving and happy person who was always grateful for the blessings she received. She expressed her gratefulness by practicing the virtue of generosity and she always maintained a well-grounded outlook in life, understanding that the simple things in life are the most important – faith and family!
Surviving to mourn her loss is her beloved husband Nicolas; her four loving children: Michael, Ralph, Carlo and Grace; her four adored grandchildren: Samantha, Noah and Caleb, and Liam; her dear mother Augustina Barcenilla of the Philippines; and her eight loved sisters and brothers: Giovanni and wife Dorie Barcenilla of Leesburg, FL, Cecilia and husband Bob Lincoln of Orlando, FL, Eusevio and wife Ashley Barcenilla of Great Britain, Isabelo Barcenilla, Jr. of Bloomingdale, Eleanor Tino of Watchung, Alma Bargamento of Bloomingdale, Susan and husband Arnold Veloso of Montreal, Canada, and Marion and wife Fe Barcenilla of the Philippines.
Teresa was predeceased by her dear father Isabelo Barcenilla in 2005 and her brother-in-law Norman Tino in 2014.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 12-1 and 2-5 PM.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 between visiting hours and at the funeral home. The Mass will begin at 1:00 PM. Interment will take place in the Philippines.
February 3, 2014
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Saturday, February 8, 2014 from 12-1 and 2-5 PM.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 between visiting hours and at the funeral home. The Mass will begin at 1:00 PM. Interment will take place in the Philippines.
Teresa B. Ponsica, age 55, of Haskell, passed into eternal rest on Monday, February 3, 2014 – the same day as her daughter Grace’s birthday. She was in the comfort of her home with her family, lovingly standing by her side.
Teresa was born in Cebu, the oldest city in the Philippines. She was the fifth of nine children born to Isabelo, Sr. and Augustina Lopez Barcenilla. Though her parents were both professional educators, life for Teresa and the people of her homeland was often a financial struggle. Teresa often shared her account of growing up, walking to school in inferior quality shoes because that was all her parents could afford. The walk to school was long and rough and Teresa’s shoes quickly fell into disrepair. She remembered feeling sad in her heart about this situation until one day, upon seeing a poor person with no feet, her feelings turned to thankfulness in her heart, realizing how blest she still was!
Teresa graduated from St. Catherine’s Elementary School and High School in Carcar. She went on to pursue a degree in nursing at South Western University in Cebu City, graduating in 1980. As a young woman of twenty-two years, Teresa launched her career as a registered nurse with her first job at Camotes-Laoc Medical Clinic in Sibonga Cebu. While working there, she spent every Thursday at a field clinic fifteen kilometers away in Mantalongon. The field clinic was across the street from a house where a young man named Nicolas Ponsica lived. From his house, Nick, as he was known, saw the beautiful nurses that came to work at the field clinic. One day he introduced himself to Teresa and asked her if she would like to go for a ride in the sidecar of his Yamaha YA6 motorcycle. She accepted his offer and the two began dating. At that time, Nick was a rascal so it wasn’t unusual for Teresa’s mother to walk in and out of the room with great frequency when Nick came to visit Teresa at her parent’s house. They fell in love and on Saturday, July 15, 1984, Nick and Teresa exchanged their wedding vows at St. Catherine Church in Carcar. Teresa and Nick were blessed with their first of four children – a boy which they named Michael who was born in November, 1984. Michael was followed by two brothers: Ralph and Carlo, and a little sister Grace. All through the years that Teresa was having children, she continued to work full-time as a nurse, now at the Barili District Hospital. She worked hard, always striving to make a better life for her family, and she recalled many days, being pregnant and hitching a ride on the top of a chicken truck, just to get to work.
Despite her efforts, Teresa and Nick just didn’t have the opportunities they were looking for in the Philippines, so in 1989, Teresa came to the United States by herself, her daughter Grace less than a year old! While Nick took care of the kids at home in the Philippines, Teresa studied and took the test to earn certification as a Registered Nurse in the U.S. Two years later, Nick and the kids joined her and they began their reunited lives in a home in Haskell. Teresa’s first job was at the Lincoln Park Nursing Home, followed by employment at the Wanaque Convalescent Center. She ultimately held two nursing positions working every day from 3-11 PM at the Lakeland Health Care Center in Haskell and from 12-8 AM at the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morristown. In the mornings, she always arrived home with a smile on her face and a bounce in her step!
Teresa’s hard work paid off and helped to pay for family vacations or vacations just with her honey Nick to Disney Land, Cancun, Bahama Islands and Caribbean cruises to name a few. On the weekends, she liked to escape to Atlantic City to strengthen her biceps on the slot machines! On the home front Teresa loved to cook and host friends and family in her home.
Her faith in God was very important and she was a faithful parishioner of St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes. Despite her efforts to live healthy, Teresa’s body became afflicted with lung cancer. Her mortal battle is over and her family has found peace in knowing that her eternal life with her Lord has begun.
Teresa touched the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was known by many coworkers to be kind and a pleasure to work with. She was equally good to her family. Her spirit of generosity overflowed from her heart of thankfulness for the many blessing she felt she received in her life. She expressed that generosity by sending money to several of her nieces and nephews back in her Philippine homeland so that they could receive an education, enabling them to become registered nurses like herself. She was also moved to share much of God’s blessing to her with St. Isidore Parish in the Philippines.
Teresa will be remembered as a loving and happy person who was always grateful for the blessings she received. She expressed her gratefulness by practicing the virtue of generosity and she always maintained a well-grounded outlook in life, understanding that the simple things in life are the most important – faith and family!
Surviving to mourn her loss is her beloved husband Nicolas; her four loving children: Michael, Ralph, Carlo and Grace; her four adored grandchildren: Samantha, Noah and Caleb, and Liam; her dear mother Augustina Barcenilla of the Philippines; and her eight loved sisters and brothers: Giovanni and wife Dorie Barcenilla of Leesburg, FL, Cecilia and husband Bob Lincoln of Orlando, FL, Eusevio and wife Ashley Barcenilla of Great Britain, Isabelo Barcenilla, Jr. of Bloomingdale, Eleanor Tino of Watchung, Alma Bargamento of Bloomingdale, Susan and husband Arnold Veloso of Montreal, Canada, and Marion and wife Fe Barcenilla of the Philippines.
Teresa was predeceased by her dear father Isabelo Barcenilla in 2005 and her brother-in-law Norman Tino in 2014.
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