Obituary: Suzanne Elizabeth Rizzo

Suzanne Elizabeth Rizzo, 95, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away Sunday, November 19, 2017 at Whispering Heights CBRF where she had been residing the past eight years.

She was born December 7, 1921 in Marani, Romania, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Lohmiller) Rothas. Suzanne attended Senn High School then Lakeview High School in Chicago and graduated in 1939. She continued her studies for a year at the College of DuPage. Suzanne began working for IBM at age 19, initially in filing and was then taught to be a computer operator, which she worked as until her marriage.

On April 11, 1964, she married Lawrence Joseph Rizzo at St. Mary’s of the Lake Catholic Church in Baileys Harbor. They were blessed with thirty-three years of marriage. Larry passed away in 1997.

Suzanne was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Sturgeon Bay and the Christian Mothers there, which she served as President of. She was also a member of the Door County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. Suzanne served as Secretary of the Lady Elks. She enjoyed roller skating and boating, and loved traveling with Larry, often to see his son in Alaska. Suzanne also liked to knit.

She will be missed by her sister, Stephanie Marder of Chicago; nieces and nephews, Lisa (fiancé, John Wachowicz), Lori (Richard) Schultz, Steven (Sandra) Marder, all of Chicago, IL, Joseph (Jan) Marder of Massachusetts, Mark (Susan) Rothas of Chicago, IL, and Barry Rothas of Arizona; many great-nieces and great-nephews; sister-in-law, Anita Rothas of Illinois; and other dear friends.

Suzanne was preceded in death by her parents; husband; step-son, Lawrence Arthur Rizzo; and her siblings, John, Phillip, and Edward Rothas and Rosaline “Rosie” (Richard) Bialka, and Josephine Kluver, Betty Hendricks, and Nancy Edberg.

Her life will be celebrated by family in Illinois.

Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery in Chicago, beside her husband. Larry.

Memorials may be given in Suzanne’s honor for St. Joseph Parish (110 N. 5th Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235).

Suzanne’s family would like to express their thanks to the staff of Whispering Heights CBRF and also to her friend, Marge Albee, for the wonderful care Suzanne received over the years and also to the staff of SouthernCare Hospice for the compassionate care provided for her.

Huehns Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Sturgeon Bay is assisting the family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Suzanne may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.