04/29/2026
Teresa Gilbreath was not someone you forgot.
She was strong. She was stubborn. Fiercely independent and completely unapologetic about it. She was smart, so very smart, hardworking, and always pushing forward. Teresa did not suffer fools, and she made sure the work got done.
That’s exactly what made her so impactful.
She brought discipline, intelligence, and drive to everything she did, including her service to Glen Rock.
Her presence on Council mattered. She challenged assumptions, pushed conversations forward, and stood firm in what she believed was right. She was a tireless advocate for our seniors, the library, FOGRA, our drinking water, and for better programming and communication. She didn’t just talk about progress. Teresa delivered it. Real, tangible progress that strengthened this community in lasting ways.
While I prepared for surgery, Teresa scheduled two meetings with me. The first was to bring a treasure trove of items she had researched and curated – tools I would need post-surgery. Things I never would have thought of, and still use today.
The second was at her home oasis (her magic garden) which she created to nurture the environment through native plants and pollinators. It reflected her: intentional, vibrant, and full of life. As we watched the monarchs, we also reviewed the Borough’s upcoming needs. In that moment, she gave me the grace to step away, knowing the wheels would stay on the bus and that Glen Rock was in the very best hands.
That’s who she was. Thoughtful, prepared, reliable, steady and always there when it counted.
But beyond all of that, she was my friend.
And I will miss her tremendously.
Teresa leaves behind her beloved husband of 35 years, Lee; her daughter, Kyra; her mother, Irene; her brother, Stephen; and her extended family. My heart is with all of them during this incredibly difficult time.
Glen Rock has lost a force. Someone who showed up, spoke up, and left things better than she found them.
She moved this community forward and we are better because she did.
Teresa Mary Gibbons Gilbreath, age 66, of Glen Rock, on Saturday, April 25, 2026. Born in Ridgewood, Teresa grew up in Hawthorne and had been a...
