Obituary for Sandra L. Rizzo (Hancox)
LATHAM – Sandra L. (Hancox) Rizzo, age 80, passed peacefully from this life, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by the love of her family on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Sandra, a daughter of the late Donald and Mary (Maloney) Hancox, was born in Cohoes on April 24, 1942. She was raised in Cohoes along with her two siblings Bonnie and Donna. Sandra received her early education in Cohoes and was a graduate of Cohoes High School. Sandra would meet her future husband, Joseph L. Rizzo at the Riviera Lounge (Troy), where they would form an immediate connection that was carried throughout their lives. The love that Sandy and Joe shared was indescribable, it was the greatest gift they gave their children. Sandy and Joe spent their early years in Troy, where she was devoted to raising their four children as well as caring for their home. Sandra was the biggest supporter for her husband’s generational family business, “Flowers by Rizzo” in Cohoes. As their lives together progressed, Sandy and Joe would eventually relocate to their current home in Latham, which has been cemented in all members of the Rizzo’s family memories. Sandy later took employment with the State Department of Taxation and Finance in Albany from where she retired after many years of service.
Sandy and her late husband were members of the Troy Lodge of Elks, where they spent many weekends creating fond memories with family and friends. Sandy was the rock of the Rizzo family; she adored spending time with her family and friends and made sure she took care of everyone else before herself. Hosting pasta dinners every Sunday, having pool parties and inviting everyone to her home to watch football or Family Feud were some of the great experiences she created. Sandy was known as a giver, she always gave the best presents, would go out of her way to help anyone in need, all she wanted was to see a smile on your face.
Sandra was the much loved wife of the late Joseph Louis Rizzo who passed at age 58 on March 27, 2000; cherished mother of Louis Rizzo (Tina), Michael Rizzo (Tina), Missy Rizzo (Tom LaBarge) and Jodi Winters (Doug); loving grandmother of Joseph, Sophia, Dominic, Louis, Alexis, Anthony, late Vinny, Lauren, Haley, Ryan and London; proud great-grandmother of Parker; dear sister of Bonnie Moffre (Dennis) and the late Donna DeCicco as well as several nieces, nephews and her adored feline companions,Weezie and Ippy.
The Rizzo family offers their sincerest thanks to Sandy’s caretakers, Betty Place, Jackie Wiener and Darlene DeDee whose care and support allowed her to remain in her home during her illness and convalescence.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Reverend Geoffrey D. Burke on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 10:00 am in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham and the Rite of Committal and Entombment will follow in St. Mary’s Mausoleum, Troy. Friends are invited to attend and may also visit with Sandra’s family on Friday, March 10, 2023, from 5 until 7 pm at the Bowen & Parker Bros. Funeral Home, 97 Old Loudon Road, Latham. If desired, a donation, in memory of Sandra’s love for animals, may be made to Kitten Angels 233 Housemen Street, Mayfield NY 12117.
No words can describe how much we all loved and will miss our - Nanny Sandy, Aunt Sandy, and Sandra D - We were beyond grateful and blessed to have had the privilege of being in her family.
Sandra, a daughter of the late Donald and Mary (Maloney) Hancox, was born in Cohoes on April 24, 1942. She was raised in Cohoes along with her two siblings Bonnie and Donna. Sandra received her early education in Cohoes and was a graduate of Cohoes High School. Sandra would meet her future husband, Joseph L. Rizzo at the Riviera Lounge (Troy), where they would form an immediate connection that was carried throughout their lives. The love that Sandy and Joe shared was indescribable, it was the greatest gift they gave their children. Sandy and Joe spent their early years in Troy, where she was devoted to raising their four children as well as caring for their home. Sandra was the biggest supporter for her husband’s generational family business, “Flowers by Rizzo” in Cohoes. As their lives together progressed, Sandy and Joe would eventually relocate to their current home in Latham, which has been cemented in all members of the Rizzo’s family memories. Sandy later took employment with the State Department of Taxation and Finance in Albany from where she retired after many years of service.
Sandy and her late husband were members of the Troy Lodge of Elks, where they spent many weekends creating fond memories with family and friends. Sandy was the rock of the Rizzo family; she adored spending time with her family and friends and made sure she took care of everyone else before herself. Hosting pasta dinners every Sunday, having pool parties and inviting everyone to her home to watch football or Family Feud were some of the great experiences she created. Sandy was known as a giver, she always gave the best presents, would go out of her way to help anyone in need, all she wanted was to see a smile on your face.
Sandra was the much loved wife of the late Joseph Louis Rizzo who passed at age 58 on March 27, 2000; cherished mother of Louis Rizzo (Tina), Michael Rizzo (Tina), Missy Rizzo (Tom LaBarge) and Jodi Winters (Doug); loving grandmother of Joseph, Sophia, Dominic, Louis, Alexis, Anthony, late Vinny, Lauren, Haley, Ryan and London; proud great-grandmother of Parker; dear sister of Bonnie Moffre (Dennis) and the late Donna DeCicco as well as several nieces, nephews and her adored feline companions,Weezie and Ippy.
The Rizzo family offers their sincerest thanks to Sandy’s caretakers, Betty Place, Jackie Wiener and Darlene DeDee whose care and support allowed her to remain in her home during her illness and convalescence.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Reverend Geoffrey D. Burke on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 10:00 am in Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Latham and the Rite of Committal and Entombment will follow in St. Mary’s Mausoleum, Troy. Friends are invited to attend and may also visit with Sandra’s family on Friday, March 10, 2023, from 5 until 7 pm at the Bowen & Parker Bros. Funeral Home, 97 Old Loudon Road, Latham. If desired, a donation, in memory of Sandra’s love for animals, may be made to Kitten Angels 233 Housemen Street, Mayfield NY 12117.
No words can describe how much we all loved and will miss our - Nanny Sandy, Aunt Sandy, and Sandra D - We were beyond grateful and blessed to have had the privilege of being in her family.