Natalie I. Ruggiero passed away unexpectedly on Thursday September 1, 2011 at the Royal Nursing Home in Falmouth where she was recuperating from a fall.
Born on December 4, 1924, she was a daughter of the late Paul Francis Ruggiero and Mary (DeLuca) Ruggiero. She was raised in Stoughton and in 1969 moved with her family to Falmouth.
She received her primary education at the former St. Mary’s Parochial School in Stoughton and was a graduate of Stoughton High School. She also attended Fisher Junior College. After graduating from college she was employed in the Secretarial field for several years. She relinquished that profession to become the family housekeeper for her elderly parents and siblings. As a result, she developed excellent culinary skills to the delight of the family.
She was by nature an altruistic person --- kind, caring and compassionate, always putting the needs of others before her own and when the occasion warranted it, always offered a sympathetic ear.
Natalie was a music lover. As a young girl she was a movie buff and a longtime dedicated fan of the Boston Red Sox and all other New England Sports teams.
Never having lost her quest for learning, she read the Wall Street Journal daily from the first page to the last page and right up to the day of her passing, continued to be a loyal fan of talk radio shows and matters of civic interest and current events.
She was very fond of children and fortunate were her nieces and nephews who lived close by. They were left enriched by her endearing and genteel manner.
Natalie will be missed. Her loss is profoundly felt by her loving brother Charles J. Ruggiero and sister Frances R. Ruggiero of Falmouth, with whom she resided. Other survivors include her sisters, Virginia E. Schretlen of North Falmouth and Helena A. Blum of Stoughton. Also sharing in this loss are numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Natalie was also preceded in death by her brothers, Querino, Guido and James and sisters, Katherine B. Leahy, Marie M. Ruggiero who passed away on February 24, 2011 and Pauline E. Ruggiero who passed away on March 8, 2011.
At her request, all funeral services will be private.
Donations in Natalie’s memory can be made to one of her favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial and Honor Program – F, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.