Grayce H. Ricciardi

Grayce H. Ricciardi of Matamoras, Pa., passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on March 20, 2018, at Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, N.Y. She was 94.
Daughter of the late Frederick E. Hardwick and the late Miriam Brown Hardwick, she was born on Nov. 7, 1923, in Meriden, Connecticut.
On March 16, 1941, she married Joseph W. Ricciardi, who for 31 years was the mayor of Matamoras. Together, they were parents to seven children. During World War II, Grayce worked at Crescent Silver Company making incendiary bombs and volunteered at a hospital making bandages for injured soldiers. She also worked for a number of years in the cafeteria at Delaware Valley High School.
Grayce and Joe owned and operated the Mayor’s Corner on Pennsylvania Avenue in Matamoras, a popular “Mom and Pop” store. Grayce also is a past member of the Thursday Night Bowling League at Port Jervis Bowl and a charter member of the Matamoras Keystone Community Club. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Matamoras and St. Joseph’s Altar and Rosary Society.
Surviving are daughters, Sandra Galang and husband, Dr. Loy, of The Villages, Fla.; Sue Ricciardi of Arnold, Md.; Sherry Suter and husband, Jim, of Stevensville, Md.; Pam McKean and husband, Kim, of Shohola, Pa.; Michele Bensley and husband, Neal, of Matamoras; son, William Ricciardi and wife, Valerie, of Matamoras; niece, Faye Dudek and husband, Bernie, of Wallingford, Conn.; 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband and a son, Joseph W. Ricciardi Jr.
Visitation was held March 23 at Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Port Jervis, N.Y. Funeral services were held March 24, with a Mass of Christian burial at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Matamoras, with the Rev. Alfred Vito as the celebrant. Interment followed at Pine Grove Cemetery, Matamoras.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church or Wood Hudson Cancer Research Laboratory, 931 Isabella St., Newport, KY 41071.