Teresita P. Ordaniel

Teresita Ordaniel, age 87 of Wayne, passed away on Friday, January 5, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Iloilo, Philippines to Cesar and Consejo Penafort, Teresita’s journey was a difficult one that would shape her into the strong willed, faithful woman she became. At just 3 years old, Teresita became an orphan after the untimely passing of her mother. She moved around to several different relative’s homes in the Philippines. At 18 years old she was married to Eduardo Ordaniel and became a mother and homemaker.

Teresita was blessed with 6 children: 3 boys and 3 girls. Although raising 6 children was a full-time job, Teresita found the will to work hard for her family adding income with her efforts as a seamstress. They were raised in the Philippines but in February of 1992, Teresita’s daughter moved to the United States and petitioned for her to join her.

She worked in Portland, Oregon as a babysitter until she earned a job at the Shilo Inn as a room service cleaner to make her American Dream come true. Teresita worked so hard for her family so they could all come to the United States as well. She was the kind of person who would do anything to help them. Her family remarked that she was instrumental in making sure they all had great aspirations and she was known for pushing all of them to pursue higher education to earn degrees.

Family and faith were the cornerstones of Teresita’s life. She was devoted to her church and even in her elder years when she had chronic health issues, she found a way to attend weekly mass through EWTN on TV.

Teresita loved to travel with her family. Some of the destinations she went to include Niagara Falls, Portland Maine, Washington DC, Orlando, Lake George, Boston, and Vancouver. She enjoyed these trips most with her family at her side. Teresita will be remembered as a strict but loving and caring woman who always pushed you to be your best version of yourself. She was feisty, strong-willed, traditional, and conservative. She always had an opinion and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Her love for her family and her strong relationship with God gave her the strength to lead an incredible life that’s led to the prosperity of her kids and now her grandkids as well.