Theresa Natosi doesn’t think what she does is anything special. In her eyes, she’s just being a quiet and considerate person.
“I really like to stay in the background,” Natosi said. “I pretty much keep to myself.”
But that’s when she’s not volunteering her services to the billing office at Palisades Medical Center twice a week. Or traveling to the St. Joseph Home for the Blind in Jersey City to cut the hair of patients and residents there, free of charge. Or serving on the Sunshine Club of her senior citizen residence, Lawlor Towers on Grand Avenue, bringing cards and flowers, good will and cheer for those not feeling well or who have suffered a loss.
“She’s done it so quietly for so long, not telling anyone what she was doing,” said Diane Peirano-Ingvaldsen, North Bergen’s executive director of senior services, last week. “Every afternoon, we always thought she was out shopping, but she was busy volunteering her time. And whenever we need help in the building, Terry is always so helpful.”
When the time came for the township to select its Senior Citizen of the Year as part of the countywide program honoring the top seniors, it didn’t take long for someone to bring up Natosi’s name as a possibility.
“We knew that Terry was receiving strong recommendations,” said North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco, who honored Natosi in his office last week as the township’s recipient. “When we went over her credentials, there really was no question that Terry was very deserving of the recognition this year.”
Natosi will represent North Bergen at the annual Hudson County Seniors Luncheon at Casino in the Park in Jersey City next month.
Natosi was shocked by the honor.
“I was flabbergasted and surprised,” said the grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of two, a retired beautician who has lived in North Bergen for the last 21 years. “It’s really nice to be recognized like this. I never expected this.”
Natosi didn’t expect the honor. But then again, she didn’t expect to be named Palisades Medical Center’s Volunteer of the Year two years ago. Nor did she expect the hospital to give her the 10-year gold award. In fact, Natosi hasn’t asked for much over the years, even though she was widowed in 1952 and was forced to raise her two children, ages eight and 11 at the time, alone.
“It wasn’t easy,” Natosi said. “But we managed.”
Peirano-Ingvaldsen said that Natosi is a credit to all of the active seniors in the township.
“I think many seniors do a lot of things on their own,” Peirano-Ingvaldsen said. “And they want to be anonymous for what they do. We want the seniors to stay active. The more active they are, the healthier they are. Recognition like this is outstanding. It’s our turn to give back.”
Sacco agreed.
“Theresa has gone out of her way to hide her good works,” Sacco said. “She was never looking for credit, never looking for publicity. She was doing all these wonderful things for so long. Finally, we took notice and she’s receiving her due credit from the township.”
Added Sacco, “The seniors have such a strong voice in our community, so it’s important to let them know how much they are appreciated. They deserve to get their share of positive treatment. No one deserves more. They are always so willing to give of themselves.”
Sacco said that the Natosi family has been very active in the community as well, with three of her grandchildren serving as volunteer coaches in the town’s recreation department.
“When you see the type of commitment that the family gives North Bergen, it’s easy to see where it all came from,” Sacco said.
Unfortunately, Natosi suffered a recent fall that has limited the amount of time she volunteers.
“It became too much to handle,” Natosi said. “I’d still love to do more, but I just can’t. Never in a million years did I think this was possible. I’m very proud.”