Belardina C. (DeCiccio) Ruggieri, Passes at 96
Nardolillo Funeral Home, Inc.
Belardina C. (DeCiccio) Ruggieri, Passes at 96
Beautiful till the end, Bella, age 96, mother of six, survived her husband of 27 years, Vincent Salvatore, father of all their children. Steven R. Salvatore (deceased 2015), Dr. Joan (Salvatore) Fargnoli of Johnson, RI and Sarasota FL, Karen Salvatore of Saunderstown, RI, Janice (Salvatore) Foster of Reno, NV, and Caroline (Salvatore) Petrucci of Greenville, RI. She survived her husband of 35 years, Ed Ruggieri of Cranston, RI.
Bella devoted her life to her six children taking pride in the knowledge that 2nd generation Italian immigrants were educated, happy and successful. She was the matriarch of the DeCiccio family and served as a surrogate mother to nieces, nephews, and many friends who had lost their mothers. Her infectious smile was forever present and her sweet, loving personality glowed.
Bella raised her children in Warwick, RI. She was widowed in 1975 when the love of her life, Vincent, passed from early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 53. Five years later she met and married Ed Ruggieri. He welcomed Bella’s family with open arms and quickly became a loved member of the 120 and growing Salvatore/DeCiccio clan.
Bella was a devote Catholic and prayed to the sacred heart of Jesus and Mary, mother of Jesus daily. She attended mass daily and was an active member of her church, Saint Rocco’s in Cranston.
Bells experienced much sorrow in her lifetime. Having lost her mother at the age of 16, she and her older sister, Josephine, raised the three youngest children in her mom’s place.
Bella lost the love of her life, Salvatore' as she would affectionately call him when she was 50. She later lost her youngest son, Donnie, tragically at the age of thirty-seven. Her marriage to Ed Ruggieri (affectionately known as Popi) ended when he passed just shy of age 101, after 35 years of marriage. In 2015 Bella lost her oldest son Steven. Through the heartache she remained strong with our Lord, Jesus at her side, she remained the rock that everyone l looked up to and loved. She was always there for everyone, a sweetheart to all.
Visiting hours: Monday 5-8 pm | Funeral Tuesday, 9 am, from the Nardolillo Funeral Home Cranston, followed by Mass, 10:00 am, Saint Mary’s Church, Cranston, RI | Burial at St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTo send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Belardina C. (DeCiccio) Ruggieri, please visit the floral store.