Tessa De Rohan McDonald

Tessa de Rohan McDonald (née Greenfield), aged 88, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2024, in Hope, New Jersey. Born on April 19, 1936, in Bromley, Kent, UK, Tessa lived a full life marked by a passion for nature, fashion, tennis, travel and literature. She was active in politics and had served on the Hope Planning Commission.

Tessa pursued higher education zealously, earning a Bachelor's degree from Fordham University and a Master's degree from CUNY. She received her Nursing degree from St. George's Hospital in London, UK. She was fluent in French and studied Arabic at London University in the 1970s after travelling in Morocco. Her academic pursuits fueled her lifelong love of learning and her extensive reading habits.

Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, and knitting, reflecting her deep connection with nature and her creative spirit. Tessa was happiest when tending to her gardens, a practice she saw both as a pastime and a form of environmental stewardship. She was also a talented seamstress and knitter, often crafting couture outfits for herself and her family, showcasing her impeccable fashion sense.

Tessa was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John J. McDonald. She leaves behind a loving family: children Kate McDonald-Doctor, Elizabeth McDonald, and Andrew McDonald (Cynthia); grandchildren Alexander Sicurella, Ian Sicurella, Caroline Plambeck, and Ethan McDonald; great-grandchildren Addison, Oliver, Hugh, and Maeve; and siblings Jill Slavinski, Peter Greenfield, and Caroline Osborne.

A celebration of Tessa's life will be held on August 31, 2024, from 12 PM to 3 PM at Dominick's Pizzeria and Restaurant, 10 E Clinton Street, Newton, NJ 07860.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Tessa's memory may be made to Genesis Farm Community Supported Garden, 41A Silver Lake Road, Blairstown, NJ 07825, a cause close to her heart that reflects her love for sustainable gardening and nature and EMILYsList at www.emilyslist.org to support Tessa's determination to elect more women to political office.