Gilda E.Monterosso, 92

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Gilda Elaine DiNicola Monterosso, 92, of Springside Avenue died peacefully with hospice at her daughter’s home on Sunday morning, 10:19 a.m., Nov. 27, 2016, surrounded in love by her family. 

Gilda was predeceased by her beloved husband of 66 years, Charles B. Monterosso, on Oct. 19, 2014. 

Gilda was born in Pittsfield on March 26, 1924, the second of seven children of Carlo and Luisa DiNicola. Gilda was 12 when her baby sister Leonore died and she was 17 when her mother, Mama, died.

The Monterossos were lifelong members of Mt. Carmel Church. Gilda worked for 25 years as Site Director for Elder Services, working until the age of 84 - taking care of “my old people,” as she called them, never thinking she was old herself. Jill, as she was known to everyone, was a passionate reader - she particularly loved theology and spiritual essays, especially Teilhard De Chardin, Simone Weil and, more recently, Pope Francis.  

She loved nothing more than talking with those she loved, friends and strangers she met along her way over a cup of coffee (light, four creams), and the topics soared from philosophy, politics, books and movies to the doings of those she loved. She was a master conversationalist and curious about everyone and everything. She loved NYC, as did her late husband, Charlie, and they spent many magical years there seeing all the great plays of their generation. 

Gilda was an impeccable grammercist, having won a high school Latin award. She loved remembering her part in the chorus of her high school play, “The Pirates of Penzance,” and she adored music, frequently tearing up, especially with Johnny Cash, Italian opera and most recently, Adele. Curiously, she was a tennis fanatic, though she never played herself - religiously watching matches in the dead of night, following her idol, Pete Sampras, through  20 years of his career.

Most of all though, she loved children and lived to make them happy - allowing things like roller skating in the kitchen if they wished. She was authentic and captivating and the lift she brought to the party cannot be replaced.  

Gilda leaves her beloved children, Michael Herrick Sr. and wife, Mary, Christina Cuddihy and husband Paul, and Marcia Gregg and husband Russell; her cherished grandchildren, Jason Cuddihy, Sarah Cuddihy, Christina Gregg, William Gregg, Michael Herrick Jr., Christopher Herrick, Matthew Herrick, Lisa Lovell and Elizabeth Herrick; great-grandchildren Alicia, Gina, Adriana, Dominic, Robert and Grace; her dear, enchanting sister Diane Harris and her children Deborah Bianchi and husband Alan and their four sons, Robert Stetson, Alexander, Nicholas and Christian Bianchi; Brian Harris and his son Brian Jr.; and sister-in-law, Dianne DiNicola and her children, Lori Esposito, Tammy Craccolici and Daniel DiNicola.  

Gilda was predeceased by her five siblings, Anthony, Dora, Pasquale, Carlo, and  Leonore.  

Gilda was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed.

Funeral notice: Services will be Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, at 8 a.m. from the Flynn & Dagnoli-Bencivenga Home for Funerals, 5 Elm St., Pittsfield. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church, 414 North St., Pittsfield, with Rev. Geoffrey J. Deeker C.S.S officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.  

Calling hours at the funeral home will be Friday, Dec. 2, 2016, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in care of the funeral home.