Susan Marie Ricciardi, nee Marchitto 77, of North Haven, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at HOSPICE of Connecticut on Monday, March 4, 2024, with her loving family close by. Sue was born on March 14, 1946, and grew up in Hamden, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Matthew Marchitto and Josephine Civitello Marchitto.  Sue was a proud and devoted wife, mother, and sister who centered her life around supporting and spending time with her family and friends. She devoted her professional life to teaching and worked for the New Haven Board of Education for many years until her retirement in 2003.  In the early part of 1971, she taught in the city of Chicago while her husband, Peter Ricciardi, studied law at the John Marshall law school in that city.   Following her retirement as a full-time teacher, Sue returned to the children for several years and tutored at the West Woods school in Hamden.  It was not unusual for Susan to be shopping or walking through a parking lot when a young person would stop her and tell her how much they enjoyed her class.  She enjoyed skiing, fine dining and warm weather vacations in Aruba.  For many years Susan and her husband were members of The Guilford Gourmet Club where they learned of the culture of various countries around the globe as that culture might be reflected in the cuisine of that country. She was a devoted mother to Alexander Ricciardi whose interest as a young boy in baseball, basketball and football soon transformed her into a fan of every team he played on. Above all, Sue was devoted to her immediate and extended family, and a true friend to many.  When one was troubled, she was that patient listener and advisor who could reassure with that mild and caring persona that drew people to her.   She was too many that true friend, unencumbered by envy and always able to celebrate the successes of her friends and family. Sue is survived by her husband, Peter E. Ricciardi, and her son Alexander J. Ricciardi of North Haven, Connecticut. She is also survived by her sister Patricia Marchitto, of North Haven, Connecticut, and niece Kristen Marchitto Pierpont of Wilmington, North Carolina. Susan is also survived by nieces, Karen Ricciardi Stephens of Naples Florida, Lisa Ricciardi Bourget of Raliegh-Durham North Carolina and nephew Michael J. Ricciardi of Wilmington, Delaware. Susan’s close family included her first cousins, Victor Carlucci of Hamden, and Phyliss Carlucci Ryan of Guilford.  Susan remained close to her God child Rebecca Ryan Brennan of Durham, Connecticut well into Rebecca’s adulthood and each of them enjoyed that special bond. 

The visiting hours will be on Sunday, March 10th from 2 to 5 PM at The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish at St. Therese Church, 555 Middletown Avenue, North Haven on Monday, March 11th at 10 AM.  Entombment will follow in the All Saints Mausoleum. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Susan’s name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929.