Therese deBord

Therese “Tess” Catalano de Bord, 92, a Manteca resident for more than 33 years, passed away in the presence of loving family on October 30, 2019. Tess was born October 26, 1927 in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, to John and Martha Catalano. She is preceded in death by Tom de Bord, her beloved husband of 70 years, her brothers Basil, Paul, and Cosmo Catalano, her sisters Gaetana Cole and Cecelia Higuera, her parents, and her adored daughter Janine Hughes. Tess is survived by her brother Charles Catalano of New Castle, PA and her children: Denise de Bord of Manteca, Nanette Papiernik (husband David) of Colorado, Gregory de Bord (wife Teresa) of Livermore, Camille Phelps (husband Thomas) of Livermore, Vivienne Rogers (husband Michael) of Livermore, Matthew de Bord (wife Romy) of Washington and son-in-law Craig Hughes of Manteca. Tess was blessed by eleven grandchildren: Adam Hughes, Amanda Hughes, Thomas Papiernik, Levi Papiernik, Kaylene de Bord, Sarah de Bord, Kyle de Bord, Brian Rogers, Kevin Rogers, Keenan de Bord and Isabel de Bord. She was honored to be the matriarch of the large extended family of de Bord and Catalano nieces, nephews, and cousins in recent years.  

Following her high school graduation in 1945, Tess joined the United States Cadet Nurse Corps, and trained to become a registered nurse at Clearfield Hospital School of Nursing in Clearfield, PA. World War II ended before she received her RN certification, so Tess was never called to active duty. Instead, she accepted a position working as a nurse at the Cleveland Clinic in 1949. It was in Cleveland that she met her future husband Tom. They married on February 21, 1950, and relocated to Monterey, California shortly thereafter. During her 36-year career in nursing, Tess worked part time at Carmel Community Hospital in Carmel, CA, Eden Hospital in Castro Valley, CA and St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, CA while she and Tom were residents of the Monterey Peninsula area and Castro Valley where they raised their seven children. After the children were grown, Tess returned to work full time at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro, CA, retiring from there in 1985.

Following retirement, Tess relocated to Manteca with Tom so they could be closer to their first born grandchildren. Tess was an active member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, serving the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for over 25 years as a volunteer. In addition she was a “Pink Lady” for St. Dominic’s Hospital for 18 years before the hospital changed ownership, and volunteered at Delta Blood Bank in Manteca for more than 30 years providing snacks and support for those who donated blood.

Tess was extremely proud of her family and loved them dearly. She would tell everyone she met that she had “seven children and eleven grandchildren” and would boast that “almost every one of them has already graduated from college!” Tess will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother and friend who always made time for everyone. She will be deeply missed.         

P.L. Fry is honored to serve the de Bord family.  A Celebration of Life and memorial Mass will be held on Monday, February 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 525 E. North Street, Manteca, CA. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Vincent De Paul, 525 E. North Street, Manteca, CA or the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Dept 41831, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, Texas. 75265. For condolences to the family please visit our website at www.plfryandson.com search obituary.            

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Therese deBord, please visit our floral store.