Charles Sykes/BravoTeresa Giudice made sure to savor her final days with her family before she surrendered for her prison sentence early Monday morning.
The 42-year-old Real Housewives of New Jersey star, who is currently serving 15 months in federal prison for fraud charges, spent her final hours as a free woman with her husband Joe Giudice as well as the couple's four daughters, Gia, 13, Gabriela, 10, Milania, 8, and Audriana, 5, enjoying quality family time while ensuring that her loved ones are prepared for her absence.
"She spent Sunday at home with the family getting the house in order," a source tells E! News. "She wanted to make sure everything was organized before she left. Her priority was making sure her daughters' schedules and routines would be disrupted as little as possible."
Giudice turned herself into the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Conn. (the same prison which inspired the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black) just before 3 a.m., seven hours ahead of her scheduled intake. "I think she was anxious to get in, get this thing started, get it behind her, and get back to her family," her lawyer, James J. Leonard Jr. told ABC News. "Her four girls are her primary focus."
Shortly before surrendering, the Bravo star contacted her close pals. "Around 2 am, close friends received texts from her saying goodbye and asking them to please help look after the girls."
And as expected, family and friends have rallied together to show their support for the reality stars.
"Everyone in the family is around right now, that's for sure," the source said. "They're all pitching in."
However, Teresa's brother Joe Gorga and wife Melissa, who have famously feuded with the Giudice's in the past, have not been spotted at the brunette star's home.
While Teresa did not release a statement prior to surrendering, her eldest daughter, Gia, took to Twitter to thank everyone for their support.
"support system is unreal #soblessed," the aspiring singer posted before later retweeting a tweet which read, "Hard times will always reveal true friends.."
We're also told that the couple's four children did head back to school today.
According to Teresa's lawyer, the TV personality was told to be "friendly but guarded" at the prison, and to savor moments with her family. "They told her to keep her head up, that she would make it through," he said.
Upon completion of her 15-month sentence, Teresa's husband of 15 years, Joe, 42, will serve 41 months in prison (their sentences were staggered to ensure that one parent remained at home with their children). Joe then faces the possibility of deportation, as the native Italian is not a U.S. citizen.
In July 2013, the Giudices were charged with conspiring to defraud lenders and illegally obtain mortgages and other loans, as well as allegedly hiding assets and income during a bankruptcy case. The 39-count indictment claimed they committed mail and wire fraud, bank fraud, made false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy fraud. It also charged Joe with failure to file tax returns from 2004 to 2008, during which time the father of four allegedly earned nearly $1 million.
Four months later, the spouses were indicted on two additional counts of bank and loan application fraud.
In total, they were accused of obtaining more than $5 million in bank loans due to fraudulent and falsified paperwork, and, after pleading guilty to financial fraud in March, they were sentenced in October.
In the wake of the start of Teresa's prison sentence, a number of celebrities, particularly those from the Bravo family, have taken to social media to send their well wishes. Here's what they're saying:
My heart goes out 2 @Teresa_Giudice and her family. Such a sad day for a mother to be separated from her children. Saying a prayer for u all
? KENYA MOORE (@KenyaMoore) January 5, 2015Thinking of @Teresa_Giudice and her children today
? Kyle Richards (@KyleRichards) January 5, 2015I gotta take a second to shoutout my girl @Teresa_Giudice and send her love. I'm thinking of you and praying these months fly. xxoo love you
? Angela Raiola (@biggangVH1) January 5, 2015My hope is that the Jersey community lifts Teresa's children while she is away. It truly does take a village & her children deserve support.
— Jaime Primak (@JaimePrimak) January 5, 2015