Lydia Maria Rifice

Lydia passed away peacefully Friday morning. She died as she lived—without stress and causing as little problem as possible to those around her. There was never a complaint or tear from her throughout her caretaking. Raymond and I were with her in her home surrounded by her precious photographs and memorabilia from numerous parties and travels.

Mama’s life was filled with music and she played her piano (sometimes in the middle of the night) until a few months ago. She sang and loved to dance frequently asking in Spanish if someone wanted to dance the rhumba.

Lydia loved to travel and she did. We went on so many cruises with family and friends. Her suitcase was always packed to go to Melbourne Beach or North Carolina. She loved champagne and chocolate. She ate ice cream everyday and there were boxes of Russell Stover everywhere. Our father treated her as a princess and we endeavored to do the same. She was so very easy to be with and to love.

Mama rests now with her husband Aurelio, son Philip, and so many family she outlived. She leaves behind a sister, Yolanda Louise Troisi, grandchildren Lydia Rose Wilson, Andrea Joy and Steven Rifice, great grandchildren: Jonathan, Benjamin, and Christopher, nieces Lisa Fein, Sharon Troisi, and Ann Marie Brandimarte, nephews Louis Troisi and Rick Andre. Many generations call her Aunt Lula: Brian, Christina, and Jason Fein, Christopher, Nicole, Alexander, and Michael Troisi, Brad, Lisa, Rocco, and Gia Troisi. She was Mama and Nana to our many friends who keep her in their hearts and prayers. The people at Amedisys Hospice (IdaImis and Isabel) cared for her these last few years and Reyna who was with her everyday and knelt to pray by her bedside a few minutes after Mama died.

We are grateful for time we shared with Mama and her memories linger on. She woke every morning saying she was feeling “wonderful” and indeed she was.