In loving memory of Erna Ricciardi, who passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on January 30, 2023. Erna was born on August 7, 1931, to Maria
(Jaklitsch) and Matthias Erker in the Gottschee region of the former Yugoslavia. She was the devoted wife of Vincent Ricciardi; loving mother of
Carol (Gale) Sanders of Sharpsburg, GA, Nancy Ricciardi of Stuart, FL, Linda (Bill) Faltin of Jensen Beach, FL, and Philip Ricciardi of Atlanta, GA; loving Oma of Alyssa Faltin (Aidan Fitzmaurice), Kimberly (David) Ackell,  Brittany Faltin (fiancé Jacob Dekker), Joe Sanders, and Leah (Brent) Sturm; and loving great Oma to Ethan Sturm. Erna was predeceased by her brothers, Johann and Albert, and is survived by her sisters, Maria Reichmann, Leni Rom and Pauli (Stefan) Brawitsch.

Erna came to Ellis Island by ship at 18 years old in 1950. Erna's first job was as a nanny for a Jewish family in Manhattan. Their Yiddish and Erna's
German were similar enough for them to understand each other while Erna attended English lessons. After Erna obtained her citizenship papers, she returned to Europe so that she could bring her mother back with her to America. Erna met the love of her life, Vinnie, while working at the A&P
bakery. She loved to tell stories of how Vinnie, as a union business agent, would stop to talk with her while she was working and make her nervous by distracting her from doing her job. Or how he pretended to have baseball injuries to keep him from dancing when they went out to nightclubs. Erna stopped working to raise her family and then went back to work when her youngest started kindergarten. This required her to obtain her first driver's license at the age of 42 (after several attempts). Erna began working at Entenmann's Bakery in Bayshore, NY, where she worked shifts in the middle of the night and early morning hours so she could be home when her children got back from school. She worked at Entenmann's for almost 20 years before retiring and moving to Florida.

As a mother, Erna was always there for her children with warm hugs, loving advice and a contagious laugh. She was a woman of faith and instilled in them the importance of family, hard work and doing what's right…a true role model who was both adored and admired. Erna also loved being an Oma and had a large presence in the lives of her grandchildren. Their bond began as she selflessly cared for them when they were younger, and continued to grow stronger as they became adults and shared life together. She was always willing to indulge in any shenanigans they asked of her, adding her own typical humor to it. The legacy she left, one of strength and unfailing love, will continue to shape and affect their lives. Erna's granddaughter, Kimberly, became her primary caregiver later in life and they were blessed to share a lot of quality time in her last years.

Erna was a kind, caring and giving person who always put the needs of her family before her own. She was a pillar of strength who faced every challenge in her life with courage, dignity and resiliency. Her warm smile and sweet personality endeared her to everyone she met, and her sense of humor and willingness to laugh at herself made her such a joy to be around. She brightened every room she was in. Erna's competitive spirit would often come out during bingo night or while enjoying a game of Trouble or playing her favorite card game, rummy. She also loved her sweets and could often be found helping herself to the candy bowl or box of cupcakes with a big grin on her face. In her later years, she greeted everyone she met with the question, "Do you speak German?", and was thrilled when the answer was, "Yes!" She was also a lover of animals and very kind and generous to all of her granddogs. She was a source of inspiration and will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held at Treasure Coast Seawinds Funeral Home in Stuart, FL on Thursday, February 9, 2023, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. A Catholic Mass will be held the following day at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Jensen Beach, FL on February 10, 2023 at 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Cure Alzheimer's Fund.

Mom/Oma, you will always be in our hearts and we will never forget you. We love you so much and are so lucky to have had you in our lives.

Wir lieben dich, always. Rest in peace. Until we meet again.