Teresa was born in the Bronx and primarily raised in Westchester County. Her mother Jeannette also known as Jenny, was a typical mom, who had great taste and was an excellent cook. She taught her children to be good and honest. Teresa says her mom was a great math student and excellent in school. However, when her grandmother had a stroke her mother was forced to leave school. She was only 13 at the time. Teresa recalls this being a sad moment in her mom's life. Her dad was a typical man. He was good with tools, handy around the house, and a good provider. He was imaginative and determined. One of her favorite stories is about the time that he wanted a pair of skates. Since he could not afford them he went around collecting old skate parts until he built his own pair. Now that's being resourceful. Teresa was happily married to James Curso for 48 years. He was her childhood sweetheart. Her late husband had lost his mother at the age of thirteen. The grief caused him to seek solace in food, particularly sweets. He soon became a chubby boy who she often teased. One day he started throwing rocks at her. At that moment she knew it was "instant love". She described her marriage as a fun time. She has a daughter in California who is trying to convince her to move out there but because of her love for New York and the change of seasons she wrestles with moving out west. One of Teresa's earliest childhood memories was around three years old. She recalls putting on a sweater over her head and pretending she was a bride. As a women, she feels man is supreme, the head. She enjoys her life with others and believes life is best when shared. Single women in her words, are a "sad plight". One of her secrets to living a good life is to apply yourself wholeheartedly, give value for value received and freely give of yourself. The greatest life lesson she has learned is to be completely honest, "say what you mean and mean what you say, because your word is your bond." Her inner strength has helped her through the most difficult times in her life. She's not sure about her future as far as living arrangements but she enjoys living at Willow Towers, a wonderful place although she still desires to be on her own.