About Alcoeur Gardens
Choosing the best elder care is a family decision. And when it’s time for help, Alcoeur Gardens is a place where you or your loved one is treated like family. We pride ourselves on providing a home away from home in a secure, safe, clean, and beautiful environment.
We don’t own or build large facilities for a reason. We fundamentally approach the philosophy of elder care with three words…
Compassion, Dignity, and Respect
While Alcoeur Gardens is licensed and surveyed by the NJ State Department of Health and Senior Services, as well as the County Board of Social Services and meets all mandated requirements for Residential Care facilities.
We pride ourselves on exceeding government standards and mandated requirements.
We don’t look at your family member as an entry on the ledger sheet. Our approach is a more personalized form of care that allows our staff to really get to know your loved one and give them the individualized attention, dignity, and respect they deserve.
Team
Meet The Alcoeur Team

Denise Van Tassell, R.N. B.S. LNHA CALA
Denise founded Alcoeur Gardens after having earned Nursing and Biology degrees from CUNY Staten Island and New York Regents College. She went on to gain years of experience working in various hospitals and nursing homes. With a natural love for seniors she was so often frustrated by the institutional feel in senior care facilities that twenty years ago she decided to strike out on her own and create home-like alternative-living facilities for the memory impaired.
Aside from her roles as Chief Operating Officer and Founder of Alcoeur Gardens.
VanTassell is also a Certified Assisted Living Administrator (CALA) and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA).
In addition, Denise is the President of
Varis Health Education, a company approved by the Department of Health and Senior Services to provide education for Nursing Home Administrators in the State of New Jersey specializing in the CALA & CMA courses.

Christy Minetello, L.P.N., B.A., CALA
Following in her mother's footsteps, Christy went on to receive her Nursing degree and started working as a Marketing and Nursing Director for the Toms River & Brick locations.
Christy is an avid member of her community and is an active member of the PTA. She serves on the Matawan Chamber of Commerce Board. She is married with three sons who keep her constantly busy, and loves every moment of it. Christy loves spending time with her family in Florida and is always on the move with her boys travelling soccer teams.

Deanna Tuccio, R.N. B.S.
Deanna Tuccio is our Director of Quality Assurance at Alcoeur Gardens. Deanna has worked along side her mother Denise since she was twelve years old, starting as an Activities Assistant. A passion for working with the elderly began at a young age propelling her career in healthcare from Activities, to Dietary, to graduating from Brookdale Community College as a Registered Nurse. Deanna gained valuable experience working as a Director of Nursing before coming to Alcoeur Gardens, where she finds joy working in a smaller setting allowing her more one on one time with the residents.
Aside from her position at Alcoeur Gardens, Deanna lives in Manalapan with her husband and two children. In her spare time she enjoys cycling, traveling, spending time with her children, and going to bingo with her mom.

Christine Meringolo, CALA
Notary Public
Director of Operations
Christine is the the Director of Operations and Certified Assisted Living Administrator at Alcoeur Gardens.
With over 20 years of experience in the medical field, she has developed a deep passion for ensuring that others feel happy, safe, and heard—a value that continues to guide her work each day.
Outside of her professional role, Christine treasures time spent with her family. Her daughters and grandson are her greatest motivation and source of joy.
She also enjoys traveling and exploring her creativity through interior decorating.
In addition to her leadership at Alcoeur Gardens, Christine is the Program Coordinator for Varis Health Education, a Private Career School approved by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. Varis Health Education specializes in professional training courses for Licensed Nursing Home Administrators (LNHA), Certified Assisted Living Administrators (CALA), and Certified Medication Aides (CMA).

Alyssa Janssen, LPN
Director of Nursing
Alyssa is the Director of Nursing at Alcoeur Gardens. She is a proud wife & mother to 3 beautiful teenagers. Most of her time is keeping busy with their many activities, sports & social outings that they are involved in. She is a loving pet owner to 2 adorable pups, whom also keep her on her toes. In her free time, if there was such a thing ~ She enjoys the beach, boating, the great outdoors & traveling to new places. She has been a nurse for 24 years, where she spent a majority of those years on the long term care, dementia units. She received her Certificate in Dementia Training early on, before gaining her clinical experience in the subacute units. As long as she can remember she has dreamt of being a nurse. She started out in the dietary department, working at a local nursing home in her hometown in Bensalem, PA. Shorty after high school, she became a CNA, which only further sparked her passion for caring for the elderly. Her close relationship with her grandparents has always fueled her compassion for the elderly & desire to be a large part of their care. Rest assured your loved ones are in good hands. She will care for them as if they are an extension of her own family. Their happiness is Alyssa's happiness.

Gina Costanzo
Director of Marketing
Gina Costanzo is the Director of Marketing at Alcoeur Gardens, where she is passionate about building meaningful relationships, serving others, and creating memorable experiences. With over 20 years of experience as an event coordinator, Gina brings creativity, enthusiasm, and exceptional organizational skills to everything she does.
She loves meeting new people, making connections, and creating opportunities to positively impact the community. Known for her compassionate nature, Gina genuinely cares about the needs of others and is dedicated to helping families find support and resources during life's important moments.
A natural leader with a creative eye, Gina thrives on planning engaging events and fostering partnerships that strengthen the community. Her warm personality and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable part of the Alcoeur Gardens team.
Outside of work, Gina is a devoted wife and proud mother of four children who are actively involved in sports. Much of her free time is spent supporting her family and traveling to sporting events. Her strong commitment to family, compassion, and community perfectly reflects the family centered values that make Alcoeur Gardens feel like home.

Deanna Fekety
Administration, Marketing,
& Human Resources Assistant
With more than 25 years of experience in marketing and administration, Deanna serves as an Administrative, Marketing, and Human Resources Assistant with professionalism, dedication, and a genuine desire to help others. Always smiling and ready to lend a hand, she is committed to supporting those around her wherever and whenever she is needed.
She has a special place in her heart for senior citizens and strongly believes they deserve the highest level of respect, attention, and compassionate care.
Born and raised in New Jersey, she now lives in South Jersey with her husband of 25 years, their two children—a son attending high school and a daughter attending The College of New Jersey—and their beloved Goldendoodle, Maxx.

Katie Porro
Activities Director
Katie serves as the Activities Director at Alcoeur Gardens, where she is dedicated to creating meaningful experiences that bring joy, laughter, and connection to every resident. With a lifelong passion for making others smile, Katie has always believed that brightening someone's day is her true calling.
At the age of 23, Katie began her career with her family-owned business, Chubby Penguin Events, where she spent eight years planning events, engaging families through interactive entertainment, and creating lasting memories. She also worked with Field of Dreams, supporting individuals with disabilities and autism through inclusive recreational activities that fostered confidence, friendships, and fun.
Katie's passion for senior care developed after helping care for her grandparents following their Alzheimer's disease diagnoses. Witnessing their journey inspired her to make a difference in the lives of others living with dementia. Encouraged by her sister-in-law, Renee, a longtime Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Katie pursued a career in memory care.
Today, Katie brings compassion, creativity, and enthusiasm to Alcoeur Gardens. She develops engaging programs that promote cognitive stimulation, physical wellness, social connection, and meaningful moments for every resident. Her goal is to ensure each day is filled with purpose, dignity, and opportunities to create new memories.
Outside of work, Katie enjoys spending time with her husband and family, attending concerts and winery festivals, reading, and cheering on Liverpool Football Club in honor of her family's connection to her mother's homeland.

John Reiling
Maintenance Director
BIO TO FOLLOW
