Lillian Ferraro

Lillian Ferraro of Groton passed away at Cayuga Medical Center on December 6, 2011. She was born Lillian Yarosh on July 17, 1951, to John and Rosalie (Matychak) Yarosh in Ithaca, NY. A 1969 graduate of Ithaca High School, Lillian received a bachelor's degree from SUNY Fredonia in 1973, and a master's degree in education from Elmira College. In 1978 she married her best friend, Edward Ferraro, with whom she lived in Groton for 33 years. Lillian dedicated more than 30 years of her life to teaching reading to children. She taught in the Groton and Ithaca school systems, spending the greater part of her career at Caroline Elementary School in Ithaca. She retired in June 2010. Lillian was a master teacher whose knowledge, creativity, energy, and love enriched the lives of hundreds of children, and helped many of them achieve success, both in school and later in life, that they would not have had without her. A generous and caring person, Lillian was always willing to help a student, a relative, a friend, or a total stranger. She was diagnosed with cancer on June 6, 2011, and she faced this terrible disease with characteristic fortitude and without complaint. Her difficult path was eased by the love and support of her family, and of her many wonderful friends and colleagues. She spent four of the last six months as an inpatient at Cayuga Medical Center, where the care and kindness she received from the staff was deeply appreciated. Lillian is survived by her husband, Edward Ferraro; her sisters, Bernice Yarosh and Mary Yarosh; her nephew, Joshua Yarosh; niece, Brittany (Isaac) Colburn; nephew, Luke Swan; and niece, Cecelia Swan; her mother- and father-in-law, Frank and Julia Ferraro; extended family and many dear friends. She is predeceased by her parents, John and Rosalie Yarosh. Calling hours were at Zirbel Funeral Home, 115 Williams St., Groton, on Friday, December 9th, from 5-7 p.m followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m. with Mr. Matthew Binkewicz. Burial Service was held Saturday, December 10, 2011, at noon with the Rev. Hieromonk Michael Thier pastor of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Church, 211 Main St., Lopez, PA, officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 83 Main Avenue, 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851 or to Family Reading Partnership, 54 Gunderson Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. Friends may sign the guest book at www.zirbelfuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lillian Ferraro, please visit our flower store.