Geraldine A. Ruggieri

Age 57, died Thursday, February 21, 2013 after a valiant battle with Primary Peritoneal Cancer. She was the beloved daughter of the late Flora Gismondi Ruggieri and Mario J. Ruggieri; devoted and loving sister of Maureen Norcie and the late Rosina Ruggieri; cherished aunt and Godmother of Gregory Norcie of Bloomington, Indiana; favorite sister-in-law of Ralph Norcie; Godmother of Liza Armstrong of Columbia, Missouri and blessed with the extraordinary friendship and support of MaryAnn Kovac Bednar, Michele D'Angelo, Christine Camesi Ferguson, Nancy Kenney, Drew Porvaznik, and Kathy Stabryla, along with many other wonderful friends, relatives and co-workers. Ms. Ruggieri was a School Counselor for Chartiers Valley School District since 1994, first at the high school and then worked at the Intermediate School from 1996 until her retirement in June, 2012. She was known as a child advocate and thought of Chartiers Valley as her second family. She loved her students as though they were her own and always was guided by what was in their best interest. She was especially proud of her "Peer Helpers" - a selected group of fifth-grade students she trained to assist their fellow students. Ms. Ruggieri was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and graduated summa cum laude from Duquesne Graduate School of Education, where she earned her Masters of Science in Education in School Counseling in 1990. Besides Chartiers Valley School district, Ms. Ruggieri had previously worked as a school counselor at Bethel Park, Steel Valley, and Woodland Hills School districts. She will be honored by Chartiers Valley Intermediate School by having an Advocacy Award in her name given to a fifth-grade student who best exemplified her spirit of advocating for fellow students. In addition to being a member of Allegheny County Counselors Association and the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association, Ms. Ruggieri was a member of St. Barbara's Church in Bridgeville and a former CCD teacher and lector. Friends welcome Sunday 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. at WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE, 1650 Greentree Rd., Scott Twp. (412-563-2800). Funeral Mass in St. Barbara's Church Monday, 10 a.m. with cousin Dominic Armstrong as Cantor and Fr. Richard Ward officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to any of the following: Wesley Spectrum Services, 243 Johnston Rd., Upper St. Clair, PA 15241; St. Barbara's R.C. Church, 45 Prestley Rd., Bridgeville, PA 15017; or GR Advocacy Award Fund, CVIS, 2030 Swallow Hill Rd., Pgh., PA 15220.