Dorothy Rizzo, age 98, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Ashe County, NC on July 5, 1926, she was the daughter of the late James Edd and Sibbie (Barker) Stansberry. She moved to Wilmington, DE in 1948 when she married her husband, Francis Rizzo. After raising their three children, she went to work for the Brandywine School District until her retirement.
Dorothy was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Francis Rizzo, who passed away in 2015; her brothers, Hunter, June and Harold Stansberry; her sister, Elsie Smith; and her step-granddaughter, Ann Romesberg.
She will be dearly missed by her three children, Linda Martin (Michael), James David (Kyoung) and Joseph Thomas (Kathy); her grandchildren, Rebecca Robertson (Brian), Noelle Leung (Steve), Christine Stevenson (Sherman), Marc Rizzo, Alexandra Arnold (Derek), Joseph Rizzo, Jr., Francis Rizzo and Kiegan Cavett; step-grandchildren, Rose Arendarczyk, James Romesberg, Jr., Brian Rapasarda and Ali Rapasarda; 15 great-grandchildren (with another due in March); four great-great-grandchildren; her sisters-in-law, Della Stansberry, Edith Stansberry, Maureen Rizzo, Jackie Rizzo and Joan Rizzo; and many loving nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to their mom’s nurse, Wendy, and to her caregivers, Erica and Cheryl.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2024 at St. Helena’s Church, (602 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19809). Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Cathedral Cemetery will follow.
Flowers will be accepted or donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org/donate) or to Compassionate Care Hospice c/o Amedisys Inc., (3854 American Way, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70816, 225-299-3803).
