Obituary of Alberta Thomas Riccio

Alberta Thomas Riccio, 90, formally of 26 Wall Street, passed away at dawn on Saturday, November 10, at Mountain Valley Hospice, with her daughters by her side. Alberta was born on August 4, 1917, in Providence, R.I. She was the daughter of Albert Thomas of Ontario, Canada, and Mary Veronica McCarthy of Lowell, Mass. Very early in her childhood, her father bestowed upon her the nickname ?Princess Pete,? and thus she was known as ?Pete? by her nearest-and-dearest, for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, her parents fell on hard times. Her beloved mother had no choice, given the constraints of the era, and hence, at the age of seven, Alberta, along with her three siblings, entered the Troy Orphanage. Despite this set-back, Alberta demonstrated a sincere belief in the basic goodness of humanity, and an indominitable optimism, that were to characterize her, throughout her days. She often told her daughters of the many kindnesses shown her at the ?T.O.A? and spoke fondly of her experiences there. When she was a teenager, the orphanage chose to send Alberta, as a superb treat, to the Chicago World?s Fair of 1934. It was her first foray into the bigger world, and, despite the honor of having been chosen, she was frightened. She timidly boarded the train, but in the end, she had a wonderful time. She was graduated from Troy High School, having been voted ?Shyest Girl? by her classmates her tendency to blush, when spoken to, was legendary. Upon graduation, Alberta trained as a secretary, and accepted a secretarial position at a law firm in Troy. But soon, again, she felt the bigger world calling her, and Alberta once again boarded a train, and headed to New York City. She got a job as a secretary on Wall Street, and took a room at the Brooklyn YWCA. Her roommate at the ?Y? was a young woman named Florence Thompson, from Vermont. It was a perfect match. Florence and ?Petey?----?The T-Twins? as they were known---- became wonderful and life-long friends, and shared many adventures in their years together, in New York, during WW 2. Also whilst in NYC, Alberta met a young man from Amsterdam, New York : Peter Riccio, who was then a student at Brooklyn Law School. They were married in 1947. From that time to the end of her life, Alberta resided in Amsterdam. The great love of Alberta?s life was her four daughters. But she also believed very strongly that women should have ?something of their own,? beyond the experience of motherhood. She thoroughly enjoyed each of her forays into the world of employment. She was a secretary for the Amsterdam Printing Company; one of the first operators of the old ?Watt?s Line?; she was also a secretary at Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School, and ultimately, a secretary for GASD. Officially ?retired,? she felt she still had a lot to contribute. She took a job with the Office for the Aging, and contributed regularly to ?The Sentinel,? the OFA?s newspaper. Alberta was a voracious reader, and some of her most transcendent moments were occasioned by the words she found between the pages of a book. She especially admired the novels of Edith Wharton. Alberta was also beautifully spoken. In all her days, never did a grammatical error escape her lips. She loved words; thoughts; aphorisms; a beautifully-turned phrase. In her later years, she kept herself very informed regarding politics and world events, and she was never afraid to speak her mind. She enjoyed debating the issues of the day with friends and family. Until recently, she was a furious spokeswoman against the George W. Bush Administration. Many Amsterdamians will remember her regular contributions to the ?Letters to the Editor? page of THE RECORDER. But ultimately, more than books or politics, it was the subject of LIFE that most engaged her. She deemed herself ?The Old Philosopher,? and her beloved daughters were the fortunate beneficiaries of their mother?s tender but profound exhortations to live and love well, but wisely. In her lifetime, Alberta ---?Shyest Girl? turned ?Strongest Woman? ---suffered many trials. Graciously and courageously, she turned them all, through her spirit of goodness, patience, and belief, into triumphs. For that, she will be remembered by those who knew and loved her best. Alberta is survived by her four daughters: Maria Riccio Bryce, Michela Riccio, and Constance Riccio, all of Amsterdam, and Sophie Kevin Kozak of Birmingham, Alabama; one adored sister, Constance Levine of Florida; two beloved brothers: Worthen ?Tim? Thomas of Rensselaer, recently re-located to Texas; and Frederick Rosalma Thomas of Chevy Chase, MD. There are also her nine grandchildren, who were showered with her love and wisdom, and who will remember her always: Duncan Shirmay, Andrew, and Peter Bryce; Michael and Thomas Kozak; Salvatore Fringo and Sarah Riccio; and Caleb and John Sherry. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and four special friends: Margaret Bielawa, ?Pet? Novak, Ramona Gralewski, and Oliva Wickes. Alberta?s daughters would like to thank Amsterdam Community Hospice, and especially the wonderful and grace-filled staff of Mountain Valley Hospice, for the tender and compassionate care shown their mother in the last months of her life. Calling hours are Wednesday from 5 ? 8 PM at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11AM at St. Mary?s Church, with Rev. Dominic P. Isopo officiating. Interment is in Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Alberta?s memory to the Amsterdam Free Library, 28 Church Street, Amsterdam, in care of the funeral home.