Longtime Ridgefield Public School Employee, Ethel Laura Richards, 91, has Died

Ethel Laura Richards

Ethel Laura Richards, 91, of Ridgefield, CT, wife of the late Paul A. Richards, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 13, 2020.

Ethel was born on March 5, 1929 in New Rochelle, NY ta daughter to Louis and Josephine (Negrini) Valerioti. She attended New Rochelle schools and graduated from Albert Leonard High School and the secretarial program with distinction.

Ethel began working at Dirk’s Buick Dealership while continuing to sing with the band The Shades of Rhythm as they performed through the New York area. It was while performing at Fort Slocum that she met her husband Paul, who was serving in the military. There began their love story.  They started dating and were married on January 11, 1952.

While her husband was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, together they resided in many parts of the United States and Germany for a period of time before returning to Hanscom Field Air Force Base in Massachusetts in 1958. They remained at Hanscom until Paul’s retirement when they bought their first permanent home in Ridgefield in 1967 where she has called home for 53 years.

Ethel began working for the Ridgefield Public School system and retired in 1998 after 35 years of service.  She was proud to have worked at RPS offices for so long and would fondly remember the friends she had made there. Following retirement, she enjoyed spending time taking art classes at Founders Hall, day trips through New England, cooking for her family, but mostly spending time with her grandchildren.

In addition to being a member of Founders Hall, Ethel was a member of St. Mary Church of Ridgefield.

She is survived by her two daughters, Kelly Smith and her husband Kevin, of Hopewell Junction, NY and Paula Paccadolmi who was predeceased by her husband Thomas of Ridgefield as well as her grandchildren, Theresa Smith, John Smith, and Laura Smith (named for her grandmother) and Alexandra Paccadolmi and Christina Paccadolmi. She also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and son in law, Ethel was predeceased by her brothers George Valeroti, William Valerioti, and Louis Valerioti and sisters Katherine Fiorito, Natale Pace, and Gloria Francella. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all services will be private.

Contributions in Ethel’s memory may be made to the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association, 27 Governor St., Ridgefield  06877.