Obituary of Rita (nee Chlipala) Zizzi

Rita C Zizzi of Cheektowaga passed on September 10, 2023. Beloved wife of the late Albert Zizzi Sr.; Devoted mother of Albert {Julia) Zizzi Jr.; Marilyn {James) Springer, Joseph {Kathleen) Zizzi, Kathryn (Daniel) Kmiotek, and Christina (Robert) Zdrojewski; Loving grandmother of 17 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren; Dear sister of the late Mary (Stanley) Smyntek; Alfred and Walter; special aunt of Ronald (Sandy) Smyntek and the late Jerome Smyntek Rita was born in Buffalo and grew up in the Black Rock neighborhood. She attended Riverside High School and obtained a BS Ed and a MS Ed from Buffalo State College. Rita spent her entire teaching career of nearly 50 years in the Cleveland Hill School System where she carefully tended to generations of young minds. Her love for her students is reflected in the boxes of pictures, drawings and cards she collected and treasured. After her formal retirement she couldn't stay out of the classroom and continued to substitute teach into her eighties. A large contingent of Rita's family living in Florida held a memorial service at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. A graveside committal service will be held in Buffalo at a later date. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Rita Zizzi also will be held on a future date to be determined.