Mary Lorraine (Ianiri) Ruggiero

Lifelong Brocktonian, Mary Lorraine Ruggiero, died peacefully at home on November 30, 2025 after a long, fulfilling life at the wonderful age of 97. For the past 4 ½ years, Mary lived with breast cancer showing courage, grace and strength.

Mary attended Brockton schools and was a graduate of Brockton High School, class of 1946, graduating with honors from the Business School where she studied bookkeeping. She later graduated from the Brockton Academy of Beauty Culture in 1947 as a licensed beautician. She worked at Brockton Paramount Beauty Shop, which was part of her father’s barber shop.

Mary later became the bookkeeper at Royal Sportswear in Brockton and worked as a clerk at A & P Supermarket until she began her career at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Trial Court until her retirement in 1999 as the bookkeeper for the Probation Department.

Over her lifetime, she had fond memories of growing up in Brockton with her sisters Nancy and Jean. She reminisced often of the loving home her parents provided for them and the simple pleasures of growing up with family and friends in their neighborhood, walking throughout Brockton to visit friends, beach trips to Hummarock Beach with their Porazzo cousins, and many social events with friends.

While attending a wedding, Mary met her future husband, Ralph G. Ruggiero, of East Boston. They married in 1950 and settled in Brockton. Soon their family grew with Dianne, Maureen, and Ralph. In 1963, they built their first home on Southworth Street with the help of many family and friends completing the construction and finish work. Mary often shared stories of the way everyone came together to build their dream home. Not long after their home was finished, their family grew once again with the arrival of their fourth child, Joanne. During their marriage, Mary and Ralph were involved in the local community including attending sporting events for their children and local politics.

Mary had many hobbies and pastimes. She was an avid reader sharing her love of books with her sister, Nancy. Mary joined her sisters, Nancy and Jean, along with dear friends, at Westgate Lane in several ten pin leagues for decades. During that time, they won numerous championships, had 600 series, and were awarded many trophies. When she wasn’t bowling, she could be found alongside sister Jean and many friends, on the golf course. Primarily playing at D.W. Field Golf Course in Brockton, Mary enjoyed traveling to other courses for tournaments. Mary celebrated two holes in one, coincidentally on the same hole at Blue Rock Country Club in South Yarmouth, MA. She continued to bowl and golf until age 92 in 2020 when many activities stopped due to the pandemic.

Another of Mary’s cherished activities was her bi-weekly poker club. For over 50 years, Mary and her lifelong friends would take turns going to each other’s homes for their poker night. It started before the children arrived when the husbands would gather to play poker and the wives would join and play their own game of poker. As the children began arriving, the tradition of the women getting together to play continued for decades until friends passed.

Family was the foundation of whom Mary was in spirit. She cherished her parents and sisters and appreciated all they did for her throughout her life. Mary was a proud and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph G. Ruggiero, daughter, Maureen A. (Ruggiero) Cram, mother and father, Florence (Porazzo) Ianiri and Annibale Ianiri, sisters Nancy Ianiri and Jean (Ianiri) Oksuzian, son-in-law  Michael Gordon and in-laws Paul Oksuzian, Joseph and Eleanor Ruggiero, Joseph and Dora Auriemma, and Anthony Ruggiero.

Mary is survived by her devoted children, Dr. Dianne Ruggiero, Ralph Ruggiero and Joanne (Ruggiero) Gordon, her caring son-in-law, Fred Cram and his wife, Barbara, as well as her cherished grandchildren, Ryan Gordon and his husband, Adrian Gonzalez Cerrillo, Rachel Gordon and her husband Jeff JeanPhilippe, and her dear great-grandchildren, Emry and Eily JeanPhilippe.  Mary’s extended family, including her nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends meant so much to her.

Mary’s family would like to thank the many dedicated Hospice team caregivers at Beacon Hospice, especially Nurse Shayna and Home Health Aide Jackie who cared for her with compassion, dedication and kindness.

All are welcome to calling hours on Thursday December 4th from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and her funeral service at 11 a.m. all at Waitt Funeral Home, 850 North Main St., Brockton, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery. In honor of Mary’s life, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beacon Hospice, One Father Devalles Blvd., Suite 407, Fall River, MA, 02723.

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