Tina (Concetta) Gerace Obituary
92, of West Palm Beach, Florida, waswelcomed into heaven on Monday March 18, 2024, surrounded by herloving family.
Tina was born in Buffalo New York in 1931, to the late Anna (Suraci) and Dominc Gerace, who immigrated to the United States fromPodargoni , Italy. She graduated from Laffayette High School and laterBryant and Stratton business college, where she trained to be anaccountant. With her accounting background , and extraordinarypersonality and organizational skills, Tina worked for several businessesas well as serving as the "right hand" executive secretary for CEO's andbusiness leaders in Miami.
Left to cherish her memory and grand life are her son and daughter, Dr.Joseph Gerace Rico, Lucinda Rico) grandchildren Kayla, Christopher, andNicolas Rico of Paw Paw Michigan; and JulieAnn Rico Gerace , grandsonJulian Joseph Gerace of West Palm Beach and Castiglion Fiorentino, Italy; her niece Debbie Gerace and her mother Jean, and grandniecesand nephew Jessica, Jeremy (Anastasia), and Maisha (Evan) and greatnieces and nephew Raiden, Alessandra and Lily. Tina is Predeceased byher adoring brother Dr. Donald T. Gerace and survived by her sister-in-law Kathy Gerace, along with extended family throughout the US andItaly, along with a host of caring friends.
Tina was one of a kind, with big green eyes , a smile that electrified anyroom she was in, and a personality that charmed everyone she met.Always glamorous, creative , and energetic, she dedicated her time and.
Talent to serve on boards and organize events for numerous church, charitable, and community organizations including the Palm BeachOpera Guild, St Edwards Guild, the Dante Alegheri Society, Il CircoloSociety in Miami and Palm Beach, and the Marian Center School forexceptional children in Miami, to name a few.
Tina was passionate about her family history and Italian heritage. Fordecades, she researched and recorded family history from herancestral town of Podargoni Italy, and shared her efforts andcollaborated in this work with her cousins, the late Linda Gauthier andVincenzo Suraci and Dan Colasanti. To this day, her work provides alegacy of historic genealogical information for future generations.
Travel, history, education, painting and cooking were some of hergreat passions. Tina traveled to Italy, and most parts of the world, where she forged relationships with extended family and made life longfriendships. Her passion for travel, discovery, and lifelong learning hasbeen an inspiration to her entire family.
Tina married the late Joe Rico in 1956 in Buffalo New York, They movedto Miami in 1964 with their two children. Tina lived much of her adultlife in Miami, Florida where she raised her family, and made manylifelong friends , particularly in community of St Catherine of SiennaChurch. She later moved to West Palm Beach, and spent severaldecades of her life enjoying her second home in Blue Ridge Georgia, where she painted, wrote her family history, gardened, and madecherished memories with a community of friends, including Vi Endterof Miami, who she cherished and loved like a sister.
Tina spent her final years in the care of Avery Cottage in West PalmBeach, Florida , along with the Vitas Hospice team, who all providedextraordinary love and support until the end.
Tina was immensely proud of her family, and was a loyal and dedicatedfriend. She leaves us all a legacy of passion for life, eternal optimism, and an unwavering spirit of determination.
Tina's life will be celebrated in a funeral mass at St. Edwards, CatholicChurch in Palm Beach Florida, on April 9 th at 10:00 am. In lieu ofFlowers, donations to the Marion Center of Miami Florida in her name, would be greatly appreciated.
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