Josephine Ricci

Josephine Ricci passed away on Friday, February 18 ^th , 2022. For the last almost four years, she gave pancreatic cancer a run for its money. Gracefully, living, loving and making memories with her family and friends.

She was known endearingly as “Momma”. Always willing to play board games, cook, bake, sew and do arts and crafts just to spend time with her grandchildren. In fact, she would do anything to be with her family, which explains how she found herself climbing Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, even though she was afraid of heights, or keeping the kids up late when they were young making ice cream waffles just to watch them smile.

It was her selfless, loving nature which permeated the motley crew she presided over that will be missed the most.

An example of elegance, she was a loving wife, loving mom, loving grandmother, a wonderful and amazing woman. Naturally artistic, she had an eye for style and design. A talent that could be seen and appreciated in her home and later the homes of her grown children, who requested she make them her beautiful homemade draperies and paintings.

She was born many moons ago in Staten Island on December 5, 1947, to parents Vincent and Ann Sacco. And she is now survived by her devoted husband, Rich Ricci, her children, Rich and Bonnie Ricci, Mike and Michelle Sullivan and Christian and Lydia Smith, her grandchildren, Michael, Jake, Billy and Luke Sullivan and Tyler and Joey Smith, her siblings, Tony and Lydia Madalone, Vinny and Joanne Sacco and Mike and Beverly Newbrough, her nieces, nephews and countless loving friends.

Funeral Thursday February 24 ^th at 10:00 am from the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at Our Lady of mercy Church, 65 Third St., East Greenwich. Burial will be in the RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Calling hours: Wednesday February 23 ^rd from 5-8 pm. In lieu of flowers donations in Josephine’s memory may be made to Dr. Wolpin’s Research Fund: http://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/TR?fr_id=1200&pg=team&team_id=3534