Skip to content

Rita M. (Kirk) Pizzi

Rita M. (Kirk) Pizzi, 87 years of age, passed unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 6th at Don Orione Home, East Boston. Family and friends are invited to express their respects and condolences at St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop Street, Winthrop on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 beginning at 9:00am. Immediately to follow a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00am. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

Rita was a lifelong resident of East Boston, member of the Star of the Sea Parish and St. Mary’s graduating class of 1950. On November 11, 1951, Rita married her only love, Thomas “Johnny” Pizzi at Star of the Sea. In the years to follow, she was blessed to be the mother of five children. It was very important that she raised her children with a strong faith in God and to have a Catholic education. Rita was a dedicated mother and wife. She was very involved in school activities, a den mother in the Cub Scouts and proud to drive the East Boston High Cheerleaders in the Columbus Day Parades. Rita was a mother who lead by example and her children were very proud of her. Rita’s faith was paramount and she demonstrated it daily. She was an active parishioner at Star of the Sea Parish. In later years, she became a devotee of the Most Holy Redeemer Parish in East Boston and the St. John the Evangelist in Winthrop. Prayer was as important to Rita as taking a breath. Rita would always greet you with a warm embrace promising her prayers for you, truly a woman of God. Her deep faith allowed her to have peace in any situation, because she believed in the power of prayer. After her children were grown, she began a working career at Boston Logan International Airport. Rita loved to cook for holidays and special occasions. She truly enjoyed knitting and crocheting beautiful afghans, quilts, hats and scarves for winter, and often gave them as gifts. Rita always cherished every family gathering with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was the devoted wife of 52 years to the late Thomas J. “Johnny” Pizzi. Loving and caring mother of John T. Pizzi & wife Glenda of Waltham, Patricia Pizzi Gamble & husband Ron of Marlborough, Stephen M. Pizzi and wife Karen of Revere, Donna Pizzi Giglio of Winthrop, and Ritamarie Pizzi DiSciscio & husband William J. DiSciscio Jr. of Winthrop. Adored Nana of Elizabeth, Michelle, Tanya, John Jr., Stephen Jr., Tina Marie, Rayna, Alannah and Nicholas. And proud great grandmother of ten great grandchildren. Dear sister of the late Ruth O’Brien, Nicholas “James” Kirk, Hazel Fitzpatrick, Earl “Buddy” Kirk, Irene M. Rotondi, Alice E. Oldham, Jean E. Fiatarone, and Patrick Kirk.  

Services

Visitation

Wednesday, November 13th  beginning at 9:00 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop

Funeral Mass

Wednesday, November 13th at 10:00 a.m. in St. John the Evangelist Church, Winthrop

Interment

Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden

Donations in Rita’s memory can be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105

Sign up for Obituary Updates and you’ll be notified when new obituaries are added. Simply enter your email address below and click “subscribe”.

Return to Obituaries
2 Messages Send your condolences
  1. Elizabeth Corn Scott
    Nov 12 2019

    I will never forget Auntie Rita, Uncle Johnny and your family and the fun trips you all made to North Carolina. I remember Auntie Rita’s smile, her kindness and her great hugs. Your Mom was lucky to have all of you. You cared for her, and you were there for her. You made a beautiful difference in her life and her memory lives on in you. May you find peace and strength as you honor her life and her love. I will be thinking of you all and keeping you in my prayers.

    Love you all !
    Liz and Joe Scott (cousin from NC)

  2. Colleen M
    Nov 11 2019

    To Rita’s Family,

    I am so very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you all in this most difficult time. Rita was a wonderful lady that I feel so blessed to have met. She brought a smile to everyone’s face that she met. Her reassuring words and calm manner made the days seem so much more special!

    I will continue to hold Rita in my most fondest memorird and know she is so happy to be with God now!

    God bless you Rita! Thank you so very much for the laughs!

Send your condolences.

(required)
(required)

Note: HTML is allowed. Your email address will never be published or shared.

To all our families, friends, and residents of Revere, East Boston, and surrounding communities of the North Shore,

We would like to announce that after 37 years of caring for thousands of families at our 773 Broadway location, on January 31st, 2023 we will be officially RELOCATING, to our new location at 262 Beach St., Revere.
On September 30th, 2022, we proudly purchased the Vazza “Beechwood” Funeral Home – DiPietro and Vazza, Inc. A name that has served families for 102 years. We feel blessed that with all of the interest, the Vazza Family chose us to carry on their century old business and family name. We will become Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals. We will continue to honor the Vazza name and continue our commitment the same way that we always have. We also look forward to having both Louis Vazza and Jessica Vazza Ferragamo alongside of us, as we come together as one.
Our reputation has always been our biggest asset. For many years people always wanted us to have a larger facility, now our facility is the largest funeral home in the area. We will be making many beautiful upgrades to allow our families to have the most elegant facility to honor their loved one.
Although this announcement is bittersweet, as we say goodbye to our home, we are forever grateful for all of you for placing your constant faith and trust in us to care for your loved one. We will continue to do what we are best known for.
Thank you for your friendship and continued support.
God bless you all.
Faithfully,

Your friends at Vertuccio Smith and Vazza.

To all our families, friends, and residents of Revere, East Boston, and surrounding communities of the North Shore,

We would like to announce that after 37 years of caring for thousands of families at our 773 Broadway location, on January 31st, 2023 we will be officially RELOCATING, to our new location at 262 Beach St., Revere.

On September 30th, 2022, we proudly purchased the Vazza “Beechwood” Funeral Home – DiPietro and Vazza, Inc. A name that has served families for 102 years. We feel blessed that with all of the interest, the Vazza Family chose us to carry on their century old business and family name. We will become Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals. We will continue to honor the Vazza name and continue our commitment the same way that we always have. We also look forward to having both Louis Vazza and Jessica Vazza Ferragamo alongside of us, as we come together as one.

Our reputation has always been our biggest asset. For many years people always wanted us to have a larger facility, now our facility is the largest funeral home in the area. We will be making many beautiful upgrades to allow our families to have the most elegant facility to honor their loved one.

Although this announcement is bittersweet, as we say goodbye to our home, we are forever grateful for all of you for placing your constant faith and trust in us to care for your loved one. We will continue to do what we are best known for.

Thank you for your friendship and continued support.

God bless you all.

Faithfully,

Your friends at Vertuccio Smith and Vazza.