Obituary of Geraldine Pieracci Kidder

Services will be held this Thursday for Geraldine A. Pieracci Kidder who passed away June 28th peacefully at home with her family by her side after a long courageous battle with kidney cancer. She was 76 years old. Geraldine was born in Santa Cruz on January 16, 1938 at Dominican Sisters Hospital to Alphonso & Jennie Pieracci. She was the youngest of 4 children. As a baby she got the nickname "Peppy" from her older brother Albert which her family and friends affectionately called her all her life. Geraldine was a proud graduate of Holy Cross High School in 1955. She was a devoted worshiper at Holy Cross Church of Santa Cruz. During her final years in high school she worked the afternoons at the Dominican Sisters Hospital helping in the kitchen. After high school she went on to study at Smith's Vocational Business School. When she completed her studies there she got a job as a teller at the Bank of America on Mission Street. That is where she met the love of her life, Albert "Lee" Kidder Jr., who at the time was a young U.S. Navy Petty Officer. They were married on February 14, 1960 at Holy Cross Church. She decided to be a stay at home housewife and a great beautiful mother to her sons, James & Scott. She devoted her whole life to her family. Geraldine was also a loving grandmother to her two granddaughters, Samantha & Sabrina of whom she was very proud. She also was a very proud aunt and great-aunt "Peppy" to her 3 nieces; Chris, Janet, & Debbie and their children Matt, Sarah, Lindsey, John, Joey, Jessica & Conner. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, her caring phone calls to family and friends just to say Hello and tell them that she loved them. Even as she was battling her disease she worried more about her family than herself, making sure they were alright and safe rather than worrying about herself. That was the kind of person she was. She loved her family and her friends so much that she would smile just thinking about them and how they all loved and cared for her so much. As a family we were truly blessed by having her in our lives. She was one of God's most beautiful creations. Between her and her husband Lee, they were the most loving parents and caring Aunt & Uncle a family could ever have. Geraldine is survived by sons James Kidder (Becky) of Roseville, CA and Scott Kidder of Scotts Valley, CA. Also her 3 nieces and their husbands; Chris & Dave Netto of Redding, Janet & John Netto of Soquel and Debbie Pieracci and fiancé Mark of Santa Cruz along with her granddaughters Samantha & Sabrina Kidder and many great nieces & nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Alphonso & Jennie Pieracci, her brother Albert Pieracci and her sister & brother in law, Florence & John Talaio and sister Ellen Lucido. Visitation for family and friends will be Wednesday, July 2nd, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Santa Cruz Memorial, 1927 Ocean St. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, July 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 120 High St.; a reception will follow in the church hall. Private entombment will take place at Santa Cruz Memorial Park Mission Mausoleum. We as a family would like to thank Scott's wonderful girlfriend Delia Rodriguez for her loving touch and precious care of Geraldine and to her caregivers Maricel & Minda for also taking such great care of her. They truly made her last precious days on earth as comfortable and peaceful as possible. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer donations be made in Geraldine's honor to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066. They helped Geraldine and her family so much with her care and took the time to help the family cope with her illness.