Obituary of Lucy D. Verardi

DELMAR – Lucy Verardi, 92.  It is with great sadness that the family of Lucy Verardi announces her passing on September 4, 2018.

Lucy was born in Staten Island, NY on September 3, 1926, the daughter of the late Raphael and Josephine (Clericuzio) Vitillo and spent her childhood years in a brick home of her father’s design on University Place, before moving to Delmar, NY in 1932. She graduated from Bethlehem Central High School in 1945. The following year, she married her spouse of 61 years Peter and they raised 6 children together. Lucy loved to bring joy to her family through afternoons spent by the pool, elaborate holiday meals, handmade noodles, and trays and trays of cookies. Her Italian specialties were celebrated by family and friends alike.

One of her greatest achievements was co-owning one of the first female led businesses in Delmar, the Delaware Gardens Florist and Gift Shop, alongside her dear friend and sister-in-law Jennie Vitillo.  She cherished the connections she made in the community through her work and hobbies. She loved playing Bingo and was a crochet and needlepoint champion, winning several first-place prize awards at the Altamont Fair. She worked with children throughout her life, including teaching religion classes at St. Thomas.  

Utmost, she loved spending time with her family and will be missed by those she leaves behind. She was predeceased by her husband Peter Verardi, by their infant daughter, and by her brothers Nicholas Vitillo (Jennie), Otto Vitillo (Mary).  She will  be lovingly remembered by her children Peter Verardi, Jr. (Brenda) of Saratoga Springs, Valerie Weaver (Robert) of Delmar, Alex Verardi (Laurie) of Averill Park, Ann Manning (Michael) of Glenmont, Lisa Guzy (Jeffery) of Latham and Joseph Thierry (Mary) of Latham; brother, Ralph Vitillo (Marie); grandchildren, Kim Orlando (Ron), Robert Weaver (Jaqueline), Lauren Manning (Ben Boegehold), Kristen Manning, Alex, Jack and Arianna Verardi, Jeffrey and Ally Guzy, and Stephen and Amber; great grandchildren, Isaac Orlando, Samantha and Robby Weaver, and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Sunday, September 9^th from 4 to 7 pm at the Applebee Funeral Home, 403 Kenwood Ave., Delmar. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 9:30 am on Monday, September 10^th at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 35 Adams Pl. Delmar. Entombment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. 

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.