Maria "Mary" (Catarella) Gerardi

Maria "Mary" Gerardi (née Catarella) entered into eternal rest, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at the age of 105.

Mary was an extraordinary mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Known for her heart of gold and a strong, unwavering personality, she stood firm in her mind and beliefs no matter the circumstance. Her humility and generosity were unmatched. She routinely invited strangers into her home for a warm meal, ensuring no one in her presence ever went hungry.

She lived life with spirit and joy, loving nothing more than dancing the jitterbug and listening to oldies in New York City. Her home was always filled with love and tradition, especially on weekends. Saturdays were reserved for cooking delicious T-bone steaks for her sons, and Sundays were centered around classic family spaghetti dinners. She fondly carried on family traditions, like those from her father, Augustino, who was known for his escargot and his signature gesture of sharing a piece of bread alongside a soda with a splash of wine.

Throughout her life, Mary was a dedicated worker, bringing beauty and comfort to others as a beautician at Meadowview Hospital in Secaucus, as well as working at Western Electric.

Mary was the beloved wife of the late Ernest "Babe" Gerardi, and the cherished daughter of the late Augustino and Lillian. She was the loving mother of Nicholas Gerardi and his wife Susanne, and was predeceased by her beloved son, August A. Gerardi. She was the treasured grandmother of Nicholas Gerardi, Jr. and his wife Paola, and Jenna Gerardi; and was predeceased by her grandson, Corporal Kyle Gerardi, who honorably served two tours in the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan. She was the adoring great-grandmother of Valentina and Nicholas Gerardi, and is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mary was also predeceased in life by her 6 siblings, Anne Strangia, Nancy Peta, Francis Catarella, Nellie D’Andrea, Jimmy Catarella, and Paul Catarella.

Visitation is on Friday, September 25, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Riotto Funeral Home & Cremation Company, 3205 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07306 (For GPS please use our parking lot address: 14 Stagg Street, Jersey City, NJ 07306). Funeral is on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 10:00 am to 10:30 AM at funeral home.  Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 AM at St. Aloysius Church, 691 West Side Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306. Interment is at Holy Name Cemetery, 823 West Side Ave. Jersey City, NJ. In lieu of flowers, St Jude Children's Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/), or to Tunnels to Towers Foundation (https://t2t.org/donate/).