Ralph “Ralphie†D’Errico IV, beloved six year old son of Ralph and Sharri (Coe) D’Errico III of Durham, passed away Thursday, September 13, 2012 at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Ralphie was born in Middletown on July 23, 2006 and would have been entering the first grade at Brewster Elementary School in Durham. A happy loving young boy, Ralphie loved to play baseball; loved the movie “Carsâ€; loved the ocean and all of its wonders but the most favorite of Ralphie’s pastimes was catching frogs. Ralphie also had a great love and interest in dinosaurs and said when he grew up he wanted to be a paleontologist. Besides his parents he leaves his sisters Marceline Ann D’Errico and Emily Catherine Callahan; his grandparents Edward S. Coe, Christine C. Kelley, Ralph D’Errico, Jr. and Laura D’Errico; his great-grandmother Annette Melillo and his uncle Jason E. Coe.
Family and friends are invited to go directly to Notre Dame Church, 272 Main Street, Durham on Tuesday morning at 10:00 to attend a mass of Christian burial and are also invited to attend the committal services immediately following in Mica Hill Cemetery, Durham. The visiting hours will be Monday from 4 to 8 PM at the North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue, North Haven and the family would like to extend a special invitation to all of Ralphie’s friends and classmates to visit him during those hours. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Leukemia Society, 300 Research Parkway, Suite 310, Meriden, CT 06450.
Sharri: I am so sorry for your loss of such a beautiful son! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I apologize for not being able to make it to the wake or funeral due to being out of state for work.
Though no words can take away the grief/pain you are feeling right now, I wanted to share this poem, which someone recently shared with me. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family, and may God give you the strength to get through this very difficult time.
THE INVISIBLE CORD
We are connected My child and I,
By an invisible cord not seen by the eye.
It’s not like the cord that connects us ’til birth
This cord can’t be seen by any on earth.
This cord does its work right from the start,
It binds us together, attached to my heart.
I know that it’s there, though no one can see,
The invisible cord from my child to me.
The strength of this cord is hard to describe,
It can’t be destroyed, It can’t be denied.
It’s stronger than any cord man could create
It withstands the test, can hold any weight.
And though you are gone, though you’re not here with me,
The cord is still there but no one can see.
It pulls at my heart, I am bruised…. I am sore,
But this cord is my lifeline as never before.
I am thankful that God connects us this way
A mother and child – Death can’t take away!
My heart and love go out to you. I know no words can help at this time but please know I love you and cry for him and you both. So sorry I could not be there with you. Sylvia
No words can express the sorrow we feel for you and your family. Memory Eternal.
Words seem so inadequate right now…we are so sorry and thinking of you during this very sad time. Sending you lots of love.
I will always remember Ralphie for the good times we shared in Mrs. Canning’s class.
I will miss you.
Sharri:I am so sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Hillary(Strouse Adler)
From all of us who work with Bobby Bessinger at APR Energy in Jacksonville, Florida, we express our deepest sympathy in the loss of your beloved Ralphie. God has already prepared a special place in heaven for him, where he will forever catch lots of frogs and run and play with all the other little Angels. Ralphie will now be watching over his family, and will wait for you all to be with him again someday, in eternal life. May God and your surrounding family and friends, provide you comfort and love during this difficult time.
Our sincere sympathy and love go out to you and your family in the passing of your precious, adorable son.
Love,
Cousins Flo, Nicholas & Jennifer D’Errico
Dear Sharri, Ralph and Marceline, I am so sorry for your loss. Ralphie will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God bless!
Our heart aches for you guys during this very difficult time. Our warmest wishes and prayers to you and your family.
We send you thoughts of peace and courage. May your hearts and souls find comfort.
I send you my love and support. I am very sorry you lost your beautiful son and brother. I have been praying and will continue to pray for you and your family. Love and God Bless, Mary Jo Griffin, Bob Griffin and Robert Jr.
Shari and Ralph-We are so sorry for your loss. I’ll never forget the many stories of Ralphie sneaking into the kitchen cabinets and deciding to play with the bag of flour! He was a funloving and wonderful child. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Joe and Lisa
As part of the Durham community, our hearts go out to you during this terribly difficult time. Your precious child is in our hearts and prayers. May God be with you.