Joan Marie (Edmunds) Rizzo

Joan Marie (Edmunds) Rizzo, age 93, a resident of North East, passed away on Wednesday June 8, 2022 at UPMC Hamot. She was born on November 29, 1928 in Corry, Pennsylvania the daughter of the late Faith Parks and was then adopted by the late Forest and Louise Edmunds of Sherman, N.Y. Joan was a graduate of Sherman High School in 1947. She continued her education at Fredonia State College pursing a teaching career while working at the Chautauqua Institute. Joan was also employed by Jamestown Associated Spring as a time keeper after serving in the war effort. She was an avid reader, enjoyed the fine arts, nature lover, and was a music enthusiast of the drum and bugle Corp; Boston Pops; and The Three Tenors. Joan also loved concerts, parades, games, theatre, picnics, swimming, bicycling, gardening, homemaking, fireworks, Bible readings, politics, and current and historical news. Above all, Joan loved being a mom and helping her family by putting them first above her own needs, under any circumstance. Her greatest attributes were her dependability and nurturing. Joan will be sadly missed by all who loved her. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas J. Rizzo; grandson, Devlin Craig Rizzo; and brother, James M. Edmunds. Joan is survived by her children, Sheila K. Rizzo, Stephen J. Rizzo (Marilyn), Scott T. Rizzo (Erin), and Shawn J. Rizzo; grandchildren, Melissa Reese Miller (Todd), Timothy P. Reese, Nicholas Rizzo (Maureen), Paul Rizzo (Gina), and Sam T. Rizzo; great-grandchildren, Alex Rizzo, Kailee Rizzo, Emerson N. Reese, Madison Rizzo, Violet Rizzo, Trevor, Barker, and Cameron Barker; sister-in-law, Mildred Rizzo; and several nieces, nephews, and their families. Friends may call the William D. Elkin Funeral Home, 65 South Lake Street, North East on Monday from 3:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and are invited to attend a Prayer Service on Tuesday at 10:00 A.M. at the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 A.M. at St. Gregory Thaumaturgus Church, 50 South Pearl Street, North East. Interment will be held at St. Gregory Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Erie American Heart Association, 3025 French Street, Erie, PA 16504 or the Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195.

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