Lucy Grace Rado, 100-years-old, of Wappingers Falls, NY, reunited with her family in Heaven on Saturday, February 3, 2024, to begin the next chapter of her storybook life.

Lucy was born in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on December 13, 1923, one of eight children of the late Bernard and Mary (Bonanno) Lopez. Her parents had immigrated to America from the Aeolian Islands of Italy in 1913. Lucy graduated from Wappingers High School in 1944 and began working as an executive secretary in the Personnel Department of IBM under its, then, President and CEO, T.J. Watson, until she retired to begin a family.

Lucy married Edward J. Rado, a local hair stylist and World War II Veteran, on Sunday, June 24, 1951, at St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls. Edward predeceased her in 2009. In her later years, Lucy worked as a senior buyer at All Sport Health and Fitness Center in Fishkill.

Lucy is survived by her three sons, Edward J. Rado, Jr. of Renton, WA, Philip M. Rado and wife Christine of San Marcos, CA and David R. Rado and wife Jeanine Agnolet-Rado of Hopewell Junction, NY. Lucy took great pride in her six grandchildren: Nicholas, Matthew, Julia, Garret, Isabella and Gabriella as well as in her cherished home where she lived for over 60 years. Lucy is also survived by her sister, Nancy Fulvio, and her brother, Vincent Lopez, as well as by many loving nieces, nephews and extended family. She is also survived by family friend and caretaker for many years, Lynnette Maurer. She was predeceased by her brothers, Bernard, Joseph, Frederick, Anthony and by her sister, Mary Sanfillippo as well as by her companion of over 20 years, Donald Shoemaker.

Lucy was a life-long parishioner of St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls and loved her community and the small, Hudson Valley town in which she lived. An avid reader and lover of history, Lucy would often stay up most of the night to finish a good book and take a Sunday afternoon drive to secretly explore abandoned farmhouses in search of lost treasures. She was proud of her Italian heritage and had fond memories of her trip to Italy to visit her ancestral home. Lucy possessed exquisite taste in all things. With a penchant for antiques and for fine clothing and shoes, Lucy could have been called the Imelda Marcos of Wappingers Falls. With a fiery personality to match her fiery, red hair, she was the epitome of an independent woman, ahead of her time. She proved daily that, regardless of challenges, she was a survivor--ultimately becoming one of Dutchess County's prized Centenarians.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation at McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Roue 82, Hopewell Junction on Saturday, February 10, 2024, from 10 am to 12 noon. The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered in the spring on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 12pm at the Church of St. Mary's, 11 Clinton Street, Wappingers Falls.

In lieu of flowers, Lucy's family requests donations be made in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at stjude.org.