Obituary of Jennie Caroline Riccio

Jennie Caroline (DeFeo) Riccio of Lindbergh Avenue and The Villages Florida passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on April 27th,  at her daughter’s home in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Jennie was the youngest of eight children born to Vito and Annella (DiBlasi) DeFeo.  In May of 1950 she married the love of her life Carmen A. Riccio,  and shared 65  wonderful  years of marriage until his passing in 2015.

She was a communicant of the former St. Michael’s Parish and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Amsterdam.  She was a member of the Rosary Altar Society and Santa Sofia Society of St. Michael’s Church. She was also a member of the former St. Mary’s Seniors, Mount Carmel Seniors and St. Mary’s Hospital Auxiliary.

Jennie loved to be surrounded by her family and friends.   She was a wonderful hostess and cook who always had an enormous amount of homemade Italian food and cookies for whoever visited her home.   She always welcomed her family, friends and neighbors. Jennie always found ways to do whatever she could for others, especially for her family who she adored.  She had a heart of gold.

She and her husband enjoyed traveling especially to many World War II USS Antietam reunions and to Italy.  They enjoyed wintering in Florida at their home in The Villages., FL, where she was active in many Villages organizations.   Her beautiful smile and unpretentious personality, secured a wealth of some wonderful lifelong friendships.   She loved  taking  many trips with her daughter Jacqueline and son -in- law Jerry,  especially at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa,  where she gathered with her family, nieces and nephews, enjoying the festive holiday decorations, sipping her favorite Brandy Alexander, drizzled with famous Giradelli chocolate.    Jennie always looked forward to this family Christmastime tradition.  She loved Christmas, and for 75 years, and made her annual visit to Bob’s Trees for her Douglas Fir , which was always beautifully decorated.

The family would like to take this opportunity to thank Wanda Holt for her being a compassionate and loving care provider.  

Jennie is survived by her loving daughter Jacqueline and her husband Jerry McCoy of Saratoga Springs and Monroe, NY.   She is also survived by her brother- in- law Alfred Palombi,  several nieces, nephews and a great-great-aunt  to Katherine Josephine McMahon, Patrick John McMahon and Zoey Grace Tambasco, who she cherished and loved.   She always referred to them as “My  Kids” and enjoyed dining at McDonald's with them, and eating her favorite, “Chicken McNuggets”.   Jennie was very athletic in her youth, and enjoyed skiing and playing tennis, in later years she headed to the nearsest ski slopes with "The Kids" on weekends.

In addition to her husband Carmen, she was predeceased by her siblings Daniel DeFeo, Joseph (Dorothy) DeFeo, Rose (Michael) Sagarese, Sophie (Frank) Tambasco, Grace Palombi, Dolores (Ralph) Marotta, Josephine (John) Palombi.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Betz, Rossi, Bellinger Family Funeral Home, Amsterdam, where a private service will take place at the convenience of the family.  A private interment will take place at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Amsterdam, NY.  A  Celebration of Life will take place at a later time with family and friends.  Please visit the online memorial and sign the Virtual Guest Registry to support the family at www.brbsfuneral.com.  Memorial contributions may be made to  Ronald McDonald’s House Charities, 139 Lake Ave, Albany, NY 12208.