Lived a life of family, faith, and community service
Sheryl Miraldi, 71, a committed Christian who loved her family, her church and her Staten Island neighbors, died at home Tuesday. The cause of her death was pancreatic cancer.
She worked for 15 years as the Staten Island office manager for the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) in Eltingville and was a member of NYS Assemblywoman Elizabeth Connelly's staff for a decade. Mrs. Connelly was one of Sheryl's local heroes.
Mrs. Miraldi lived in Sunnyside with her husband, Larry Miraldi, the former sports editor of the Advance, communications director for the UFT and for the last 10 years an associate pastor at Salem Church. Sheryl and Larry celebrated their 51st anniversary last October.
Mrs. Miraldi was active for more than 50 years at Salem Church in West Brighton, teaching special needs children and adults and serving in various hospitality and mercy ministries.
"My wife was talented and successful in her professional life, but the most important things her life were her family and her walk with God. She loved me, our three boys, their spouses and grandchildren. She also loved serving others, especially those with special needs," said her husband. One of her favorite's Bible verses was Micah 6:8 which talks about social justice, kindness and "walking humbly with your God."
"She lived out this verse all of her life."
Sheryl Miraldi grew up in West Brighton. She attended P.S. 19, Port Richmond High School, and was a graduate of Berkeley Institute in Manhattan.
She met her husband when he first attended Salem Church in 1965. It was love at first sight.
Her hobbies were interior decorating and gardening. She also loved traveling with the family, especially cruises and visits to Disney World.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, Mark of West Brighton, Scott of Sandy Hook, Conn., and Keith of Woodbury, Minn., and four grandchildren, Parker, Isaac, Benjamin and Eliana. She is also survived by her brother, Keith, of Princeton, N.J.
A memorial service will be held Monday night at 7 p.m. at Salem Church. Visitation is Sunday at Harmon Funeral Home, West Brighton, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Harmon Funeral Home
571 Forest Ave.
Staten Island, N.Y. 10310
(718) 442-5056
Published in Staten Island Advance on Mar. 22, 2019
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