Cover photo for Grace Mary Rizzico's Obituary
Grace Mary Rizzico Profile Photo
1929 Grace 2024

Grace Mary Rizzico

May 11, 1929 — March 21, 2024

Rutland

GRACE MARY DELETOSO RIZZICO

Obituary

Grace Mary Deletoso Rizzico, 94, died peacefully on March 21, 2024 in her hometown of Rutland, Vermont surrounded by her family.  Grace was an only child, born May 11, 1929 in Rutland, daughter of Alfred and Rose (Sangra) Deletoso.  She grew up on Franklin Street in Rutland, attended St. Peter’s School, and was a graduate of Mount St. Joseph Academy.

On September 2, 1950, she married the love of her life, Samuel Rizzico; they were married for 62 years. He predeceased her in 2012.

Grace was a member of St. Peter’s Church, the Women of the Elks Club, the Rutland Sicilian Society, and was a “Gray Lady” at the Rutland Hospital. During the Korean War, the Gray Ladies made bandages for soldiers, delivered mail and flowers, and performed other non-medical services for the hospital’s patients.

For most of her adult life, Gracie worked for her aunt and uncle at Filippo Cleaners in Rutland.  She was always at the counter and met numerous families in Rutland who she remained in contact with throughout her life.  She loved outdoor gardening every summer and indoor plants year-round. She loved watching her smoke tree blossom every spring, which she recounted was the most beautiful smoke tree in Rutland!

Always a caregiver, Grace was very close to her grandmother (“Nonna”) and took care of her throughout her life. She later cared for her aging parents. Her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She loved cooking and baking for the holidays on Park Street, the gathering place for their whole family.  She had many close friends and was known for bringing them an angel food cake, genettes, her creative chocolate candy treats, or a dahlia from her flower garden.

In 2005, she traveled to her family’s homeland in Randazzo, Sicily with her daughters and cousins. She unexpectedly served as the interpreter during the entire journey and was thrilled to meet relatives with whom she continued to correspond over the years.

Surviving her are three daughters, Helen L. Hadley (Richard Ross) of Middletown, CT., Rosemary Rizzico (Raymond Reed) of Rutland Town, Theresa Ann DelVecchio (Michael) of Branford, CT., and her son, Samuel F. Rizzico Jr. (Amy) of Manchester, MA; her grandchildren Eric Zizis (Romelyn), Anne Marie Euber (David), Alyssa Hadley Dunn (John), Brian Hadley (Haley), Ava Rizzico, Samuel III, and Alec Rizzico; her great-grandchildren, Gabriella, Athena, Olivia, Clara, Delia, Joshua, Jeremiah, Owen, Oliver, and Mayer. She leaves many cousins, whom she loved beyond measure, including Mary Henrichon, Frances (Garofano) Desroches, David Haynes, Patricia (Haynes) Godnick, and Mary Grace Haynes.

She was predeceased by many beloved aunts, cousins, and her son-in-law, Dave Hadley.

A Catholic mass be held at St. Peter Church in Rutland on April 5 at 11 a.m. A private burial will follow in the Spring. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Clifford Funeral Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home.

In honor of her son-in-law, Dave Hadley, donations may be made to The Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Rd., S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047. (www.lbda.org).

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Grace Mary Rizzico, please visit our flower store.

Guestbook

Visits: 0

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree