Talitha J. Ridley-Gorea

Talitha Ridley-Gorea, age 50, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday March 19, 2026, at home, with the love of her family in her heart. Talitha was battling severe kidney failure the past year.

She was born in Utica, on March 14, 1976, a daughter of Cheryl Filiere Ridley and the late Paul Ridley. She was a graduate of Whitesboro High School and went on to earn her BA degree in psychology from Utica College of Syracuse University and also her master’s degree in sociology and education from Syracuse University.

On February 15, 2003, she married John P. Gorea, Jr. in New Hartford, NY, a union of 23 years. Talitha taught school beginning in the Cicero-North Syracuse School District where she taught French. She went on to teach at the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES and also the Utica City School District. Most recently she was employed with the NY Life Ins. Co. as an IT Tech consultant.

Surviving is her husband, John; her mother Cheryl Ridley; her brother and sister-in-law Paul M. and Fay Ridley; her aunt Joyce Enders, her father-in-law John P. Gorea, Sr (Carolyn); her sister-in-law Kelly McConnachie and husband Paul; two nephews Joseph and Ian McConnachie and several cousins. Talitha was a cat lover and leaves her feline companions Sugar and JuJu. She was predeceased by her father Paul and her mother-in-law Caroline (Joanne) Gorea.

Visitation will be held on Thursday April 2, 2026, from 3-4 pm at The Scala, Roefaro & Karboski Funeral Home 1122 Culver Ave. Utica. Funeral service prayers will commence at the conclusion of visitation at 4:00 pm in the funeral home with the Rev. John Canorro, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation. Envelopes will be available.

Online sympathy www.scalaroefaro.com