Obituary for John C. Rizzo
DUNKIRK – John C. Rizzo, age 87, of Dunkirk, NY, died Sunday; January 1, 2023 at the Buffalo General Medical Center Buffalo, NY.
John was born on May 29, 1935 in Dunkirk, NY, the son of the late Leonardo (Leonard) Rizzo and Francesca Cirrincione (Frances Chiro) Rizzo, proud and hardworking immigrants from Aliminusa, Sicily.
John was a 1953 graduate of Dunkirk High School. Following graduation, John joined the United States Navy. He served 4 years aboard the two separate ships on numerous tours in the Mediterranean. Following John’s service in the Navy, he attended and graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY with a degree in business while working at Sears Roebuck, and Co. Following graduation from Canisius, John began his 28-year banking career with Liberty National Bank and its successor companies until his retirement in 1990. During his banking career, he would always strive to find a way to help those in need.
John was a member of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church of Dunkirk. John enjoyed reading cookbooks, compiling recipes, and cooking. He additionally enjoyed vegetable gardening. John was a 49-year member and secretary of the Dunkirk-Fredonia Lions Club and 40-year member and treasurer of the West Town of Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department. John would get his family involved in volunteer fund raising efforts selling brooms and bulbs and working the County Fair Stand for the Lions club.
After retirement John enjoyed traveling with his wife Sandra especially trips with their close friends and his sister Margaret and brother-in-law Frank. Thursday night was always “pasta night” at the Rizzo house where family and friends would gather as often as possible. John enjoyed making sausage and sauce, especially with his grandchildren.
John is survived by his daughter: Jill (James) Shaw, of Dunkirk, NY; his sons, Joel, of Dunkirk, and Jonathan (Michelle), of Kenmore, NY. John was the proud grandfather of; Elizabeth (Jonathan) Shaw, of Orchard Park, NY, Benjamin Shaw, of Cassadaga, NY, and Lillian Smith, of Kenmore, NY and many nieces and nephews across the country.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Sandra L. Parker, whom he married on July 9, 1960 and who died on August 25, 2018; and by his four sisters; Stella Ippolito, Antoinette Calanni, Josephine Ippolito, and Margaret Marriott, as well as by his five brothers: Paul, Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Leonard, Joseph Rizzo and two infant sisters.
Family and friends may call on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at The LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY, and are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 12:00 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1032 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY with Rev. Robert Owczarczak,officiating. The funeral Mass will be live streamed on John's site on the Larson-Timko Funeral Home website, larsontimkofuneralhome.com starting at 11:45 am on Thursday with the funeral Mass commencing at 12 noon. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Sheridan, NY.
Flowers gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Dunkirk-Fredonia Lions Club, P.O. Box 44, Dunkirk, NY 14048 or the West Town of Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department, 4741 Willow Road, Dunkirk, NY 14048. On-line condolences may be made at larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by David J. Dengler.
John was born on May 29, 1935 in Dunkirk, NY, the son of the late Leonardo (Leonard) Rizzo and Francesca Cirrincione (Frances Chiro) Rizzo, proud and hardworking immigrants from Aliminusa, Sicily.
John was a 1953 graduate of Dunkirk High School. Following graduation, John joined the United States Navy. He served 4 years aboard the two separate ships on numerous tours in the Mediterranean. Following John’s service in the Navy, he attended and graduated from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY with a degree in business while working at Sears Roebuck, and Co. Following graduation from Canisius, John began his 28-year banking career with Liberty National Bank and its successor companies until his retirement in 1990. During his banking career, he would always strive to find a way to help those in need.
John was a member of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church of Dunkirk. John enjoyed reading cookbooks, compiling recipes, and cooking. He additionally enjoyed vegetable gardening. John was a 49-year member and secretary of the Dunkirk-Fredonia Lions Club and 40-year member and treasurer of the West Town of Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department. John would get his family involved in volunteer fund raising efforts selling brooms and bulbs and working the County Fair Stand for the Lions club.
After retirement John enjoyed traveling with his wife Sandra especially trips with their close friends and his sister Margaret and brother-in-law Frank. Thursday night was always “pasta night” at the Rizzo house where family and friends would gather as often as possible. John enjoyed making sausage and sauce, especially with his grandchildren.
John is survived by his daughter: Jill (James) Shaw, of Dunkirk, NY; his sons, Joel, of Dunkirk, and Jonathan (Michelle), of Kenmore, NY. John was the proud grandfather of; Elizabeth (Jonathan) Shaw, of Orchard Park, NY, Benjamin Shaw, of Cassadaga, NY, and Lillian Smith, of Kenmore, NY and many nieces and nephews across the country.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Sandra L. Parker, whom he married on July 9, 1960 and who died on August 25, 2018; and by his four sisters; Stella Ippolito, Antoinette Calanni, Josephine Ippolito, and Margaret Marriott, as well as by his five brothers: Paul, Frank, Salvatore (Sam), Leonard, Joseph Rizzo and two infant sisters.
Family and friends may call on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at The LARSON-TIMKO Funeral Home, 20 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY, and are invited to attend the Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 12:00 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2023 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1032 Central Avenue, Dunkirk, NY with Rev. Robert Owczarczak,officiating. The funeral Mass will be live streamed on John's site on the Larson-Timko Funeral Home website, larsontimkofuneralhome.com starting at 11:45 am on Thursday with the funeral Mass commencing at 12 noon. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Sheridan, NY.
Flowers gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Dunkirk-Fredonia Lions Club, P.O. Box 44, Dunkirk, NY 14048 or the West Town of Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department, 4741 Willow Road, Dunkirk, NY 14048. On-line condolences may be made at larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by David J. Dengler.