Raffaela (Riccardi)) DeSimone

Longtime resident of Cranston who immigrated to this country 58 years ago, passed away on Saturday October 1, 2016 at Cedar Crest Nursing & Rehabilitation in Cranston. She was the wife of the late Pietro DeSimone. Born in Itri, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Augusto and Vincenza (Fargione) Riccardi.

Raffaela was a homemaker and seamstress. She enjoyed cooking, gardening and her grandchildren. Raffaela is most happy and proud that she came to America and through many sacrifices she was able to provide each of her children with a college education to become the successful adults that they are today and being able to say she and her belated husband did it on their own.

She was the devoted mother of Enea and his wife Mary of Coventry, Sergio and his wife Debby of Narragansett, Romano and his wife Julia of St. Johns, Florida, Elvira Boezi and her husband John of Cranston, and Peter and his wife Kimberly of Smithfield; grandmother of Gino, Kimberly Salimeno, Enea, Daniela McClanaghan, Sergio, John Boezi, Marco, Romano, Biagio and Lorenzo, step-grandmother to Gina Nicholson and Kenny Rinaldi; loving great-grandmother to Maria, Joseph, Ela, Gia and Rob; step-grandmother to six and dear sister of Ennio Riccardi and his wife Anne of New York. She was the sister of the late Vittoria, Elena, Marco, Giulio and Gilda of Italy.

Funeral from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Ave, Cranston on Thursday, at 10 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church 1525 Cranston St. Cranston at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery. Visiting hours are THURSDAY MORNING from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to: Beacon Hospice 1 Catamore Boulevard East Providence, RI 02914.