Thelma Mary Ruggiero

Thelma Mary Ruggiero of Pittsburgh passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 6, 2025 at age 102. Thelma was born in Lake Lynn, PA on April 4, 1923, to Italian immigrant parents. Happily married for 45 years, Thelma was predeceased by her husband, Vincent Leo Ruggiero, her parents Michael and Mary Laus, sister Jennie Gillette, and brothers Daniel, Gene, Anthony, and Amerigo Laus, and is survived by her sister Rosie Brooke. Her love of family encompassed every day of her life, and she will be deeply missed by her seven children, Roseanne (Dr. Mark) Wholey, Vincent (Marlene) Ruggiero, Marianne (Aubrey) Gladstone, Joseph (Diane) Ruggiero, Robert (Mary) Ruggiero, Adrianne (Arthur) DiDonato, Joanne (Enzo) Porporo, twelve grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren.

Thelma graduated from Westinghouse High School in 1941. Later in life she took calligraphy classes at Carnegie Mellon University, and she created many beautiful script images. After taking cake decorating classes, for years she created amazing cakes. She worked at the Post Gazette from 1943 to 1953 and subsequently worked at UPMC Shadyside Hospital for 18 years. In her spare time, she played the accordion and piano. 

A devout Catholic, she received great peace from her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  She watched mass daily on television, said the rosary every day, and prayed to Padre Pio daily.   

Friends will be received on Tuesday June 10, 2025 from 2-4 and 6-8pm at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc., 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street (Freyvogelfuneralhome.com). Funeral Wednesday June 11, 2025, Mass of Christian Burial St. Paul Cathedral, 10AM.

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