Elizabeth Cecilia Gerardi, 96

HARRINGTON - Elizabeth Cecilia Gerardi, of Harrington, passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 96.

She was born Oct. 21, 1911, in Philadelphia, to immigrant parents, the late Bartos and Katrin Skrovan Hrupsa.

Mrs. Gerardi grew up on the family farm on Sugar Stick Road in Harrington.

She attended school at the local Potash School and the Harrington Special School District.

During her young adult life, Mrs. Gerardi worked at the Sherwin-Jallar Shirt Factory in Harrington. Her future husband, Emilo "Emil" Gerardi Sr., also worked there as a manager. They fell in love and later married in 1932.

Along with their three children, they moved in 1942 and built a home on a farm west of Harrington, where they raised small grain, truck crops and broiler chickens. Mrs. Gerardi was instrumental in the farming process, working equally as hard alongside her husband.

Mrs. Gerardi and her husband enjoyed traveling. They toured Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Italy and Spain, with a second trip to Italy with their children and spouses in 1985. They also enjoyed several mainland trips with the Harrington Senior Center, where they always reported having a good time.

After the death of her husband, she moved to the Westminster Village Independent Living Campus in Dover. She considered everyone at Westminster her extended family, and remarked quite often of her happiness there.

Mrs. Gerardi looked forward to playing SkipBo with her lady friends every evening and to the weekly Village exercise classes. She was more then eager to participate in the annual Halloween party there, and was noted for her creative costumes.

In her spare time, Mrs. Gerardi enjoyed crafts, crocheting, dancing, and going to the beach with her family.

Mrs. Gerardi loved collecting antiques and she had a special fondness for angels and hummingbirds.

She also enjoyed helping her husband make homemade wine.

Mrs. Gerardi was known for her cooking and family gatherings. She liked to cook, and her family well remembers her butter beans and dumpling dishes she prepared along with the home grown fresh vegetables.

Mrs. Gerardi will be fondly remembered as a witty, stylish, but ornery person.

She had a love for her family that was insurmountable. Her family was her life. She will be sadly missed by her family and close friends.

Mrs. Gerardi was a devoted member of the St. Bernadette Catholic Church of Harrington.

She was also a member of the Harrington Red Hatters.

The family expresses special thanks to attending doctors, Bayhealth Medical Center staff, the staff of Westminster Village and Delaware Hospice.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Emilo "Emil" Gerardi; great-grandson, Timothy Calhoun; brothers, Charles and Rudy Hrupsa; and sisters, Theresa Komachec, Mary Ritter and Ann Nedelka Frieze.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Emil "Pete" and Delores Gerardi Jr. of Harrington; daughters and sons-in-law, Louise and Donald Chalmers of Harrington and Margie and Millard Calhoun of San Angelo, Texas; brother, Frank Hrupsa Sr. of Harrington; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Friday in St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Harrington, where friends may call one hour prior.

Interment will be in Hollywood Cemetery, Harrington.

Instead of flowers, donations may be made in Elizabeth Gerardi's name to St. Bernadette's Building Fund, 109 Dixon St., Harrington, DE 19952; or to the American Cancer Society, New Castle Office, 92 Reads Way, Suite 205, New Castle, DE 19720.

Arrangements are by the Melvin Funeral Home, Harrington.