Marie Carmel Rizzo

Marie Rizzo, a 53 year resident of Torrance, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, October 9th, 2008, surrounded by her family. Born in New York City, Marie was 88 years young when she died and has joined her loving husband of 26 years, Frank Rizzo.

Marie fell in love with her handsome Frank, the boy next door, when he came home from the Army during WWII. They married in 1950 and moved to California, settling in Torrance in 1955. Marie enjoyed being a wife and a mother and was active in her children's lives, her church, and community. Marie's greatest devotion was to Catholic Daughter's of America, where she was a 45 year member and twice served as Regent for her court. Perpetually spirited and optimistic, Marie's mind and soul stayed strong until the end. She was true to herself and had a heart of gold; she will be missed dearly by the many people she touched on her journey through this world.

Marie is preceded in death by her loving husband Frank, her parents Luca and Grace Vertullo, her sister Grace, and her brothers Joseph and Anthony. She is survived by her brother, Frank Vertullo, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; sister-in-law, Eleanor Vertullo of Spring Hill, FL; her children Jacqueline (Brian) Parke, Laguna Woods; Frank (Angela) Houston, TX; Geoff (Donna) Torrance; grandchildren Jeffrey (Elizabeth) Arrasmith, Adrienne Arrasmith, Rosemarie, Anthony, Dominic, Matthew and Luke; great grandchildren Pandora Arrasmith, and Alexzander Arrasmith.

The family thanks Drs. Michele Del Vaccario and David Scott for their care and concern for Marie these last 22 months, as well as all the compassionate nurses from Trinity Hospice who cared for her and the family these last several weeks.

A Memorial Mass will be held Friday, October 31, 2008 at 2:00 pm at St. James Catholic Church, 415 Vincent St., Redondo Beach, CA 90277. Interment will be privately held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Susan G. Koman Foundation, 1000 E. Walnut Ave. Suite 123, Pasadena, CA 91106, or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation - LA, 1875 Century Park East #950, Los Angeles, CA 90067 (Please indicate - In Memory of Marie Rizzo - in the memo line).