Marian Rizzo Obituary

Marian Beryl Rizzo

Durango resident Marian Beryl Rizzo died Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at her home. She was 85.

Mrs. Rizzo was born to Elvin and Marion McCone on March 11, 1929, in Albion, Nebraska.

She taught five years in rural schools in Boone County, Nebraska, before going on to graduate from Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. After teaching in an American military school in Munich, Mrs. Rizzo moved to California, where she met her future husband, Frank Rizzo.

The couple married on Dec. 23, 1957, in Berkeley, California. She enjoyed being a mother to their three sons, her family said, and later resumed teaching. When both retired, they moved to the Sierra Mountains community of Grass Valley, California. Working with children in Sunday school and singing in the choir were important parts of Mrs. Rizzo's retirement life.

They lived in California until 2003.

After Mr. Rizzo's death, Mrs. Rizzo moved to Durango to live closer to her son and his family in Pagosa Springs. She had lived in Durango for 10 years.

In Durango, she was also involved in many volunteer activities. A frequent visitor to the Durango/La Plata Senior Center, Mrs. Rizzo was a Study Buddy through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado and active in the Sarah Platt Decker Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was involved in several activities at the First United Methodist Church of Durango, including quilting, and knitted hundreds of caps for newborns, her daughter-in-law Marie Rizzo said.

Mrs. Rizzo was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Frank Rizzo.

She is survived by her sons Philip Rizzo of Pagosa Springs, Timothy Rizzo of Visalia, California, and Paul Rizzo of Reno, Nevada; brother, Kenneth McCone, of Upland, California; sister, Doris Hunter, of Saline, Michigan; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church of Durango, 2917 Aspen Drive.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Durango for the Missions outreach program, 2917 Aspen Drive, Durango CO 81301.