MARY (GIRARD) GERSHKOFF

87, of Providence and formally of Cranston, died unexpectedly on Sunday July 3, 2011. She was the beloved wife of the late Matthew A. Gershkoff. They were married for 55 years before his passing in 2001. Born in Asheville, NC she was the only child of the late Andrew Louis and Gertrude Grace (Sweeney) Girard. The valedictorian of her graduation class at the former St. Xavier Academy, she also graduated from the Edgewood Secretarial School. The family matriarch, Mary was the unofficial family historian and enjoyed sharing her research and memories with family and friends. She is survived by her five children, Jane Gershkoff Berman and her husband Ronald of Warwick; Steven Gershkoff and his wife Linda of Cranston; John Gershkoff and his wife Marla of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Fred Gershkoff of Cranston and Matthew Gerskoff of East Providence. She was the proud grandmother of Lisa Spirito, Marc Berman, Brian Gershkoff, Lindsey Tonzola, Sara Hanson, Kristen Couture, Lauren Lynch, Michael and Nicholas Benton. Additionally, she had bragging rights to eight great grandchildren. Her funeral will be held on Friday at 9am from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME and Crematory 1278 Park Ave. Cranston followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Apostles Church 800 Pippin Orchard Rd. Cranston at 10am. Burial will be in the RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter. VISITING HOURS Thursday 5-8pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Providence Journal Summertime Fund 75 Fountain St. Providence, RI 02902 or RI Community Food Bank 200 Niantic Ave. Providence, RI 02907.

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