WATERVLIET – Esther Theresa Piazza Derico, 91, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 20, 2018 at Albany Medical Center with her family at her side. Born and raised in Albany, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Maria Carmen (DeNucci) Piazza.
Esther graduated from Philip Livingston Junior High and Philip Schuyler High School. She was employed as a laboratory technician at Sterling Winthrop in Rensselaer for 7 years prior to her marriage in 1951.
Along with her husband Art, she helped operate Derico’s Grocery Store at 26th Street & 3rd Avenue in Watervliet for 10 years. They moved to Boght Road in Watervliet in 1962 where they built their home. She later was employed by Cox’s Stationery in Troy for 10 years and St. Colman’s Home Day Care Center for 20 years before retiring.
She was a member of the Mother’s Club at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and was a member of the Watervliet Senior Citizens. She was a great cook and loved to dance to the Big Bands and Frank Sinatra and followed her husband Art in various bands that he played the trumpet in.
She is the beloved wife of 67 years of Arthur L. Derico; loving mother of Diane S. (Jimy) Graham of Latham and Arthur J. (Sharon) Derico of Rochester, MI; adored grandmother of Stephen J. (Veesta) Derico of San Francisco, CA, Benjamin A. Derico and Erica M. Derico both of Chicago, IL and Claudia Derico of New York City; sister of the late Dominick and Frank DeSanto, John, Thomas and Anthony Piazza, Jr., Antoinette Stellatto, Sarah Caruso, Catherine Gallucci, Marie Austin and Philomena “Queenie” Hamlin. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be Friday at 9:15 am from the Parker Bros. Memorial, 2013 Broadway, Watervliet and at 10 am at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Watervliet. Entombment St. Agnes Mausoleum, Menands. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 4-7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Colman’s Home, 11 Haswell Road, Watervliet, NY 12189.
Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.