Obituary of Geraldine S. Ricci

On the evening of May 7, 2018, Geraldine Ricci (Smythe) passed away peacefully in her home at the age of 89 surrounded by her family.  She was predeceased by her sons, Carl Jr., Ronald, and Stephen Ricci and sisters, Kathleen, Patricia, and Marlene.  Gerry will forever be remembered by her children Terry, Kathie Cerquone, Tim (Onnalee Youngman), and Scott (Joanna).  Her large family was the center of her life.  She had 13 grandchildren, Anthony (Mary), David, Paul (Beth), Alicia (Brandon), Julianne, Clifford (Areca), Maggie (Levi), Matt, Alexa, Madelaina, Avery, Stephen, and Joseph.  She will be remembered by all of her great-grandchildren, who fondly called her Grandma the Great, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, Godchildren, life-long friends, and many customers that became friends over the years through her tax business.  The family would like to thank Bill Kleve and Ursula Dadson for helping care for Gerry through the years.

Gerry was born December 21, 1928 to Ray and Florence Smythe of East Rochester.  She graduated from East Rochester High School in 1946.  She was very involved with her class, organizing reunions and meeting for lunch throughout the years.  As she and her classmates got older, the lunches became monthly meetings. 

It was at East Rochester High School that she met her husband, Carl Ricci.  They both played in the marching band and they both worked at the Rialto Theater in East Rochester.  The two were married at St. Louis church on August 19, 1950.

Gerry got her start in the tax business in 1951, when she got a job as a secretary at an insurance office and typed out tax returns.  The next year, when she was pregnant with her first son Ronnie, she started doing taxes at home.  Eventually she began travelling to her customers’ homes to prepare taxes for her growing clientele.  After Carl and Gerry moved their family to Crestview Drive in Pittsford, she started doing customers’ taxes in her home office.  From there, she grew her tax business.

Gerry was an avid fan of Pepsi and sports.  She loved to watch her St. Louis Cardinals, her Oakland Raiders, her Syracuse Orange and her San Antonio Spurs.  She always joked that she watched every sport, but hockey because she could never keep her eye on the puck.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice in her memory.

Friends may call at Harloff Funeral Home, 803 S. Washington St., Friday, May 11, 2018 from 4-9PM.  Gerry’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday 10AM at St. Jerome’s Church, 207 Garfield St., East Rochester.  Interment at White Haven.