NAUGATUCK — Lydia Patricia (Giancarli) Goodson, 94, of 71 Osborn Road, passed away peacefully on April 13, 2020, at Glendale Center in Naugatuck. Lydia was the widow of Joseph A. Goodson and the daughter of the late Palma (Generali) and Dominick Giancarli.
She was born in Naugatuck on Jan. 7, 1926, and graduated from Naugatuck High School. Lydia went on to work at the Bristol Company where she met the love of her life. They were married for 59 years and raised two children, Keith and Pamela, and eventually became grandparents to their beloved grandchildren, Ashley, Josh and Erin. Lydia retired from Rossi’s Tot Shop in Naugatuck after 30 years. Upon her retirement, they relocated to Hobe Sound, Fla., where they enjoyed many years of playing golf and being with their close-knit friends. While in Florida, Lydia also became active with the Hummel Club.
Lydia was well-known for her famous Italian Ricotta cookies that she made for many family gatherings. In addition to baking, she was talented in sewing, cake decorating, floral arranging, doll making, egg decorating and crafting.
Lydia is survived by her son, Keith Goodson and his wife, Rita, of Naugatuck; her daughter and main caregiver, Pamela Ruccio of Naugatuck; her grandchildren, Ashley (Ruccio) Hagedorn and her husband, Carl, of Naugatuck and Erin Ruccio of Waterbury. Lydia was looking forward to the upcoming birth of her first great-grandson this year. She is also survived by her dear sister, Lorraine Mulhall of Naugatuck; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends. Besides her husband and parents, Lydia was predeceased by her sisters, Mary Deschino and Inez Rossi; her son-in-law, Mark Ruccio, and grandson, Josh Ruccio.
Lydia had strong Catholic faith and was a parishioner at St. Francis Church for many years. We are certain her faith helped her through this pandemic while being alone at Glendale this past month.
A special thank you to Dr. Edmund Caporaso for his compassionate care throughout the years along with her caregivers Dorothy and Ileana.
If we could all follow Lydia’s motto, “You have to love yourself before you love others,” I think we will all be better people in the world.
Services will be held at a later date and have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Ave., Naugatuck.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Joshua E. Ruccio Scholarship Fund c/o Liberty Bank, 333 Church St., Naugatuck, CT 06770.
To leave an online condolence, visit www.buckmillerthurstonmengacci.com.
