Geraldine Marie Ricci

Mom loved to laugh. She was kind, gentle, sweet and funny. Losing her on January 22, 2018 has left us devastated. She was Geraldine Marie Ricci, but preferred to be called ‘Jerry’. She was born in Los Angeles, CA, on May 29, 1926, to Herbert Edwin Batho (London, UK) and Ada Marie Meyer Batho (Butte, Montana). The family moved to Catalina Island (Los Angeles County) in 1928 where Herbert (a musician) worked for William Wrigley and played the chimes at the Island Casino. Mom was the first female soda jerk on Catalina. She and her friends would watch the Chicago Cubs practice every year when they came to the island for training. Jerry enjoyed the beach and Island life on Catalina until graduating from Avalon High School in 1944. She lost her father that year and made the move to the mainland, specifically Los Angeles. She put herself through college working several jobs at once and earned a Bachelor’s Degree and her teaching credential. She taught high school in Los Angeles, the Central Valley and finally in Ventura, from 1964-1989, at Ventura High School. While teaching in California’s Central Valley she met and married my dad, Maurice Domenic ‘Dom’ Ricci II.

Having grown up at the beach on Catalina she headed for Ventura in 1964 with me in tow after she and dad divorced. We settled in the Pierpont area for several years and eventually moved to Midtown Ventura. Mom Loved to travel and has been all around the world. She had a special affection for the United Kingdom, because of her dad and the fact that she was an English Literature educator, so it was a favorite destination for many of her/our trips. She was fascinated by genealogy, read voraciously and loved her patio garden. She was an animal lover and over the years we had quite the motley crew of critters, which included chickens, hamsters, bunnies, a sparrow, dogs, squirrels and parakeets. She was fondest of kitty cats and stated she couldn’t remember a time in her life when she didn’t have one.

Mom earned her Master’s degree from Cal State Northridge in 1970, once again with me in her shadow as she attended classes in Northridge. When Mom retired from teaching in 1989 she said she’d miss her students very much and the chance to share their learning experiences; however, it meant she’d have more time to go to the beach!

Mom always regretted losing her father at such a young age. He had served in WWI and had voiced his desire to be buried on the mainland at Soldier’s Field in the Sawtelle District in Los Angeles. He was somehow buried on the island. In 2014, Mom, my husband, Bruce, and I travelled to Catalina to bring her dad back to the mainland to Ivy Lawn Cemetery. She honored her father’s wishes to be buried on the mainland 70 years after his death and will be laid to rest with him at Ivy Lawn in Ventura.

Jerry is survived by me, Jane M. Ricci Ward, my husband Bruce A. Ward, my brother, Maurice D. Ricci III (of Indiana) and her kitty, Lily.

We’d like to extend special gratitude to Mom’s caregivers – Eloise, Rosa and Sheryl. Your kind and loving companionship and care meant so much to us and Mom.

Visitation will be held 1 hour before the service begins. Please join us and her friends in a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 11:00am, at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura, CA 93003. Burial at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park immediately following.

Mom loved color so feel free to wear some in her honor. She loved pink and purple; however, any COLOR would be wonderful. Mom requested any remembrances be in the form of a donation in her name to an ANIMAL CHARITY. Ventura County Animal Services in Camarillo and The Humane Society in Ojai were her favorites. Love and Kindness matter and they meant a lot to Mom. Love and be kind.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to TedMayrFuneralHome.com.