Theresa DePaola DeAngelo, 82, of Branford, passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 12 at Yale-St. Raphael Hospital. Theresa was born in New Haven on Oct. 30, 1940, and was the daughter of the late Peter and Carmel Longobardi DePaola.

She graduated from New York Foundling Hospital as a licensed practical nurse. Theresa co-owned the former DeAngelo’s Pastry Shop of Meriden. In 1979, she opened DeAngelo and Daughters Italian Pastry Shop of North Haven. Theresa was the founder of Beginnings Professional Dating Service. After selling her dating service, she worked for Proctor & Gamble and Acosta until her retirement at age 80.

Theresa had the most vibrant personality and touched the lives of everyone she knew with her generosity and kindness. She enjoyed watching Fox News, college football, and cowboy movies. Her favorite day of the year was Christmas Eve. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren lovingly called her Feef. Feef brought the magic of Christmas year after year. Her greatest joy in life was her three girls, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She was a loving mother and best friend to her devoted daughters, Donnamarie Pantaleo (Michael), Deborah Servadio, and Dina Van Buiten (Carl); beloved grandmother to Rachael Paprocki (Adam), Jason Pantaleo (Melissa), Nicholas, Michael and Daniel Servadio, Carl Van Buiten Jr. (Sabina) and Sarah Van Miran (Gabriela); devoted great-grandmother of Lily, Luca, Skyler, Stevie, Nathan, and Aaron; loving sister of Anna Quinn, Joseph DePaola (Nancy), Carmel DePaola Durant and the late Peter, Anthony and Vincent DePaola; and sister-in-law to Florine and Liz DePaola. We will miss her deeply and forever remember her for her unconditional love and heart of gold.

The visiting hours were on Oct. 18 at The Havens Family North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue, North Haven. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in St. Anthony’s Church, New Haven. Interment followed in All Saints Cemetery. www.northhavenfuneral.com.