Rosalie Riccio

Rosalie A. Riccio

Rexford, NY – Rosalie A. Riccio, cherished by family and admired by friends, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2017 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, New York after a brief illness. She was 88.

Rosalie was born on September 2, 1928 to Judge Felix and Rose Pipito Aulisi in Amsterdam, New York.

She was raised and educated in Amsterdam before graduating in 1949 from Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. Rosalie treasured the life-long friendships that she made there, and loyally served the college as Class of 1949 President and as Co-Chair of the 50th Reunion.

After beginning her post-graduate years in advertising in New York City with Conde Nast “House & Garden” Magazine and in Schenectady, New York with General Electric, Rosalie spent virtually all of her years leading the life that she always wanted in her hometown. She was a loving and dedicated wife and a wonderful and giving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend.

While raising her children, Rosalie earned a master’s degree in education at SUNY Albany and began working in the Greater Amsterdam School District, initially as a substitute teacher and later as a full-time guidance counselor.

She contributed heavily to her community and was generous of her time, serving as Junior Century Club President, starting the first Amsterdam Beautification Committee and volunteering as an advisory board member of St. Mary’s Hospital; she also was appointed in 1996 by the then New York State Governor to the Board of Trustees of Fulton Montgomery Community College, where she served as Vice Chair.

Rosalie is survived by her husband of 62 years, Judge Michael J. Riccio; their three daughters, Maria and her husband Whitney Fast, Rosemary and her husband Carl Gardner, and Nancy and her husband Scott Hughes; and their two sons, Michael, Jr. and his wife Laura, and Felix and his wife Moira. Rosalie was especially proud of her 15 grandchildren: Annie and Mike Fast; Grace, Claire and Jack Gardner; Ryan, Christopher, Abby and Scott Hughes; Emily and Ben Riccio; and Tommy, Andrew, Kate and Nicholas Riccio. Other survivors include Rosalie’s sister, Nancy and her husband Judge Gene L. Catena; her brother, Joseph G. Aulisi and his wife Marsha; and many nephews and nieces.

Some of Rosalie’s most cherished memories were of summers spent cooking for her extended family at the camp on Sacandaga Lake and winter months with friends on Anna Maria Island, Florida. For the past three years, Rosalie and Mike have resided at Coburg Village in Rexford, New York, where Rosalie made numerous friends and remained active on various committees.

Calling hours are Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Riley Mortuary, Inc., 110 Division Street, Amsterdam.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 1:00 p.m.at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, 1241 State Street, Schenectady,

New York. Interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Fort Johnson, New York will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Rosalie’s memory can be made in support of her nephew, Dr. Tom Catena, at Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan through the African Mission Healthcare Foundation at www.amhf.us, or alternatively, mailed to the African Healthcare Foundation, PO Box 2236, Hicksville, New York 11802. In each instance, please reference that contributions are being made to support Dr. Catena at Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains.

To send online condolences to the family, go to www.rileymortuaryinc.com.