Theresa F. Call

Theresa Francis Call (née Gallagher), a devoted educator, advocate for social justice, community leader, and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt, passed away peacefully on [DATE] surrounded by the love of her family. 

Born on November 24, 1931, in Yonkers, New York, to Mary and James Gallagher, Theresa spent her childhood in New York City and Keansburg, New Jersey. From an early age, she developed a deep curiosity and love of learning, along with a strong desire to serve others. Values that shaped her life and work. 

Theresa attended the Academy of Saint Elizabeth and later the College of Saint Elizabeth in Convent Station, New Jersey, where she studied philosophy and education. In 1949, she entered the Sisters of Charity and began her career as an educator. She taught in parish elementary schools in Pensacola, Florida, and at St. Michael’s and St. Aloysius’ in Jersey City, New Jersey, before earning a master's degree in education from Manhattan College. 

Over the course of her career, Theresa taught students from preschool through college. She believed education could open doors to opportunity and create a more just society. Her ability to connect with students and encourage their potential led her to classrooms at St. Peter's College in Jersey City, P.S. 8 in Brooklyn, St. Joseph School in East Rutherford, Immaculate Heart Academy in Washington Township, and ultimately Paramus Catholic High School, where she concluded her teaching career. 

While teaching at St. Peter's College, Theresa met Robert S. Call, the love of her life. After leaving the Sisters of Charity, they married in 1969 and built a partnership that lasted 57 years. Their marriage was rooted in faith, shared values, and a deep commitment to one another and their family. 

In 1973, Theresa and Robert made Hasbrouck Heights their home. She became an active parishioner of Corpus Christi Church and embraced the community as her own. Her commitment to education continued beyond the classroom. During the 1980s, she was elected to the Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education, where she helped bring the district’s first computers into its schools, preparing students for a changing world. 

Theresa's commitment to social justice also extended well beyond education. Throughout her life, she advocated for people whose voices were too often overlooked. She volunteered countless hours teaching English to newly arrived immigrants, helping them gain confidence and navigate life in their new home. As a member of PaxChristi and Peace Action New Jersey, she advocated for humane treatment of immigrants and participated in peaceful protests at detention centers. 

A lifelong Democrat and active civic leader, Theresa was a driving force in the Jeffersonian Democratic Club of Hasbrouck Heights throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. In recognition of her years of public service, she was honored as District 38’s “Ms. Democrat” by the Bergen County Democratic Organization in both 1985 and 1992. 

Above all, Theresa treasured her family. She was deeply proud of her daughters and took great joy in watching her grandchildren grow and find their own paths. Her wisdom, kindness, and encouragement will remain with all who knew her. 

Theresa is survived by her beloved husband of 57 years, Robert S. Call; her daughters, Mary Katherine Call Blanusa and Theresa Marie Whitehead; her grandchildren, Aleksandar and Luka Blanusa, and Claudia and Juliet Whitehead; as well as many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends. 

She was predeceased by her parents, Mary and James Gallagher; her sisters, Mary Walling, Doris Walling, Elizabeth Bell, and Joan Frazee; and her brother, James Gallagher. 

Theresa lived with a strong sense of purpose and a belief that every person deserves respect and kindness. Her legacy can be found in the thousands of students she taught, the people she helped through service and advocacy, the community she worked to strengthen, and, most of all, the family she loved so deeply. 

Her family asks that those who wish to honor Theresa’s memory do so by extending kindness to a neighbor, welcoming a newcomer, supporting public education, or standing up for someone in need. These simple acts reflect the values she carried throughout her life. 

A Funeral Liturgy will be offered at Corpus Christi R.C. Church 260 Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights on Saturday, August 29th at 11:30 AM. Arrangements are by Costa Memorial Home in Hasbrouck Heights.