Obituary of PATRICIA F. GERARDI

Patricia F. Gerardi (Pat) 76, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on December 31, 2015.Pat was born in Stamford, CT on April 18, 1939 to the late Charles and Maria (Rinaldi)Trombetta.Pat married the love of her life, Peter Gerardi, on June 13, 1959, where they resided in her childhood home. She was predeceased by her parents, her brother JosephTrombetta and his wife, Josephine, her sisters Theresa DeMasi and her husband Michael, and Rosalie Garfano and her husband Ciro (Jerry). She was also predeceased by her in-laws Joseph and Gertrude (Lacerenza) Gerardi, Rocco Vita, Nicholas Fusaro, Philip Annunziata, Gerald Gerardi, Lucian Gerardi and his wife Rita, Carmella Conetta and her husband Richard, Katherine Palladino and her husband William, and Donna DeSalle and her partner Pete Gasparino. She is survived by her loving husbandof 56 years, her son, Peter Gerardi, Jr and his wife Gail; daughter Barbette Barlow and her husband Rick; daughter Marlana Sabia and her husband JR; and daughter Jodi DiPreta and her husband Sal, as well as 9 grandchildren: Sal DiPreta III, Jacob Barlow, Nick DiPreta, Joshua Barlow, Trevor Sabia, Tony DiPreta, Jenna Sabia, Peter Gerardi III, and Ryan Gerardi. She is also survived by her sisters; Mary Vita, Antoinette Fusaro, Dottie Annunziata, sister-in-law Elizabeth Gerardi and many nieces and nephews. After a successful hairdressing career, Pat worked for many years as a secretary at St. Gabriel Middle School, which is part of the Catholic Regional School System. She retired from Bed, Bath & Beyond where she worked as an assistant to the branch managerfor over ten years. Pat enjoyed many years of family vacations in Florida and many camping trips and lots of laughs at Lake Waramaug with Dottie, Phil, Andrew and Darlene. Pat and Pete were instrumental in creating a support group and an annual Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma fundraising walk for the Scleroderma Foundation for Stamford in the Tri-State area starting in 2005. Pat was also a proud member of the Columbiettes and the Holy Name Rosary Society. Pat enjoyed watching each of her grandchildren play sports and treasured all of the special times she had with each of them. Memories were created that will be treasured for a lifetime. She also loved to host the annual New Year’s Eve Party for many years with the tradition of spaghetti at midnight to ring in the New Year. Pat was a kindhearted, loving wife and mother who will be truly missed by all who knew her. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 4, 2016 at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Church, 37 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford. Interment will follow at St. John's Cemetery, Darien, CT. Relatives and friends may call at the Lacerenza Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 8 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford on Sunday, January 3, 2016 from 2:00 - 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: Scleroderma Foundation, Tri-State Inc. Chapter, 59 Front Street, Binghamton, NY 13905.