Frances Rinaldi

Frances G. Rinaldi, a homemaker and retired teacher, passed away on Tuesday,
October 4, 2011, in Rhode Island. She was 93 years old and had lived in Hartsdale for 53 years.
Her husband of 55 years, Barney J. Rinaldi, passed away in 1996. She is survived by 3 sons, 8 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Mrs. Rinaldi was born July 17, 1918 in Manhattan to Thomas and Catherine Melodia.
Her birth name was Francesca Giovannina Melodia. She was married in 1941 and had three sons, Robert Thomas, Joseph Jack, and Barney Francis, in 1942, 1947 and 1960. She was a homemaker with children for over 30 years. She is survived by all of her children, her sister Mrs. Jean Lobalbo and Jean's daughter Cathy, her beloved Godchild.

After raising her family, Mrs. Rinaldi earned both Bachelor's and Master's Degrees and taught at the Sacred Heart School in Hartsdale for 34 years. She started with 1st grade and ultimately specialized in 7th and 8th grade science and mathematics. She directed the annual school play most years, started the annual Passion Play and decorated and chaperoned the 8th grade dance at the end of each school year.. She was greatly respected, loved and admired by her students. Upon her retirement the new science classroom laboratory was named in her honor.

Mrs. Rinaldi had many friends and several very close and dear friends throughout her lifetime. She hosted the annual Christmas day gathering for her loving extended family at her home on Chaucer Street for many years. She loved the opera and traveled in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. She was also a ceramic artist who hand molded and fired her own ware, leaving several outstanding individual figurines, busts, and a Christmas cr&egraveche.

Family and friends are welcome for remembrance at the Ballard Durand Funeral Home,
2 Maple Avenue in White Plains, from 4 PM to 8 PM on Sunday, 10/9/11. A memorial service will be held on Monday, 10/10/11 at 10 AM at the Sacred Heart Church on Central Avenue in Hartsdale. Interment will be at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne on Tuesday, 10/11/11, also at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, relatives and friends are asked to make a contribution to the Sacred Heart School in her name.