Silvia Lucia Bedinotti

Silvia L. Bedinotti1920-2014WILBRAHAM-Silvia L. (Ricardi) Bedinotti, 93, passed away at Life Care Center of Wilbraham on Friday February 21, 2014.  Silvia was born on May 26, 1920 to the late Alfredo and Lucia (Tebaldi) Ricardi in Ludlow.  She graduated from Technical High School in Springfield.  Silvia retired from Forbes and Wallace Department Store where she worked as a number one salesperson in the Millinery department, but also worked cooking her delicious Italian food for the Springfield School System Lunch Department, and Springfield Hospital Cafeteria. She was a member of Mary, Mother of Hope Church, and participated in the St. Mary's Women's Club.  Silvia was also a member of the Western Mass Aviation Association with her husband, a former member of the Moose Lodge Women's Auxiliary, and later in life attended the Chicopee Senior Center Exercise classes.  She was an excellent homemaker, seamstress, and cook, and in her spare time loved listening to opera and classical music and ballroom dancing with her husband.  Silvia most of all enjoyed spending time with her family, and lived vicariously through her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  Silvia was predeceased by her loving husband, John P. Bedinotti in 1996; two brothers, Rino and Sevino Ricardi; and one sister Sevina Solomon.  She is survived by one son, John Bedinotti Jr and his wife Gail of Fort Myers, FL; three daughters, Ann Marie Soja and her husband Martin of Manhassett, NY, Joan Ellen Bedinotti of Chicopee, and Virginia Lee Downie and her husband Stephen of Cupertino, CA; seven grandchildren, Mark, Steve, John III, Lisa, Michelle, Chris, and Alan; eleven great-grandchildren; one brother, Alfredo Ricardi Jr. and his wife Shirley; and one sister Malfalda Calvense. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, February 28 in the Tylunas Funeral Home, 159 Broadway St, Chicopee, starting at 8:45am, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00am in Mary, Mother of Hope Church, 840 Page Blvd in Springfield, with burial following at St. Michael's Cemetery, St. Elizabeth Section, 1601 State St, Springfield.  Visiting hours will be Thursday, February 27 from 5-8pm at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Silvia's Great Grandchildren's College Fund, sent to her daughter Joan Ellen Bedinotti, 253 Murphy Lane, Chicopee, MA 01020, or to St. Jude's Hospital,  501 St. Jude's Place, Memphis TN 38105.  For additional information, visit Tylunasfuneralhome.com.Tylunas Funeral Home(413) 592-0148