BINGHAMTON, N.Y., – The matriarch of the Padula family, Gilda A. Cipriani, of Binghamton, N.Y., died peacefully in her sleep on Friday, April 27. She lived 90 years.

Gilda Annunziata Padula Cipriani was born in Pescolanciano, Italy, on July 11, 1916, daughter of John and Maria Padula. She immigrated to the United States in 1926 on the Dante Aleghieri. Arriving at Ellis Island, she stepped foot in the United States on Oct. 12, 1926.

She lived in Akron, Ohio, helped raise her younger siblings and worked at a “man’s job” in the fire hose department of B.F. Goodrich for 17 years.

She married Alphonse Cipriani on May 2, 1953, and moved to Rumford, Maine.

She worked for 20 years in the school lunch department and was promoted to head cook at the high school, making institutional food that tasted delicious. She loved working at the high school, teasing the kids and joking with the teachers.

After her retirement, she moved to Binghamton, N.Y., to be near her grandchildren. Even then, at age 71, she became part of her community, praying in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Patrick’s and joining the Ladies Abruzzese Club as an active member. She played bingo, bunko and worked out a Lourdes Hospital Fit for Life until December.

She was a member of St. Patrick’s Church, Binghamton.

Gilda loved to cook, and she loved her family. She drove her little Neon until January, her last trip driving to her Main Street Giant so her friends could see her ;and to her standing pedicure appointment, an extravagance she only discovered in the the past three years.

She was admired and loved by all who knew her.

Even though her last weeks of life were challenged by weakness, she never stopped being as independent and courageous as she could. She was a model of strength, compassion and faith for all of us.

She is survived by her only daughter, Maria, and son-in-law, Dr. Frank Kirk; two grandson, F. Louois Kirk III and CPL Jason C. Kirk, USMC, all of Binghamton, N.Y.; a sister, Cora, of Denver, Colo.; sister-in-law, Mary Padula of Akron, Ohio; as well as many loved nieces and nephews in Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, California, Oklahoma, Idaho, Maine and Massachusetts; and “adopted daughters” and friends, too numerous to name.

She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Alphonse; her brothers, Carl and Angelo; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Josephine and George Siglock, and Dina and Bob Surgen, Rachael and Tony Marcellino, and Josephine and Frank Cipriani; as well as her mother- and father-in-law, Rosa and Pasquale Cipriani.

A special thank-you to Dr. Joe Reading, Dr. Ronald Harris, Dr. Hemangini Shah and Dr. Rashid Haq, who appreciated Gilda’s desire to live her way; to the nurses, technicians and staff at Broome Oncology and UHS Radiation Oncology, who always greeted Gilda with a warm smile and friendly “Buon Giorno,” to Peggy Leach from hospice who helped made the end as comfortable as possible; and to Patty Tabeek, who came to our home so that Gilda could have her hair done, and to Suie Gal, who came to do her toes.

Gilda would tell us not to be sad. “Hey, I’m 90, I lived a good, long life!” And she would be right.