MaryAnn Rizzo

RIZZO, MARYANN Age 81 September 1, 2023. Beloved wife of Erasmo. Loving mother of Lisa (Jim) VanRyckeghem, Rich (Lisa) Rizzo, & Denise (Andrew Wiegand) Rizzo. Proud grandmother of Michael (Alison Bickford) VanRyckeghem, Marisa (Alex) Kirk, Kaitlyn Rizzo, Aubrey Rizzo & Amelia Wiegand.
MaryAnn grew up in a four family flat in the city of Detroit. She always wanted a dog, but her parents got her a bird instead that she always let out of the cage when her parents weren't home. After graduating from Southeastern High School, she got a job monitoring stock trades at a bank in Detroit. She would take the bus to work and eat lunch in Hart Plaza when the weather was nice. She loved music and frequented places where Duke Ellington played. She met Erasmo Rizzo at a drive in restaurant one night and they exchanged phone numbers. MaryAnn was the first American girl to be a part of the Anna & Rocco Rizzo eight boy family. She would help Erasmo's younger brothers with book reports and welcome in all of their wives as they got married. As an only child, these women became a part of sisterhood that MaryAnn was always a part of.
She was a dedicated stay at home mom, that instilled her love of music in her kids by taking them to concerts: Earth, Wind and Fire, Barry Manilow, George Michael, Janet Jackson to name a few. She instilled dressing up in her kids, there is never a bad reason to buy a new outfit. She also grew her sisterhood by bowling on leagues and trying new things, like exercise classes, golf leagues and poker clubs. As the most welcoming person, she easily added to her amazing group of friends and family, including lifelong friends though her children's activities.
When she became a grandma, she would take Michael, her first grandchild, to Lakeside and walk the mall with him. She loved to color alongside her grandkids and was very particular about who colored what. She also loved playing games with her grandkids, both board games and taught them about playing card games. She also made sure that everyone had the best coats for each occasion. She taught them about QVC and Dancing with the Stars and they taught her about Amazon, Instagram, FaceTime and Smart TVs. She always made sure each kid had their favorite foods ready and waiting. Her specialty was stuffed cabbage made in "MaryAnn's Kitchen." She was also an amazing doggie grandma, always saving food for them and make sure they were never left out.
Visitation Wednesday 3-9pm with 7:00pm Rosary at 7:30pm Sharing of Memories at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons 54880 Van Dyke at 25 Mile Rd. (SHELBY TOWNSHIP). Funeral Thursday Instate 10:30am at SS. John & Paul Church 7777 28 Mile Rd. (WEST of Campground) until time of Mass at 11:00am. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery. Share memories with the family at their "On Line Guest Book" @ WujekCalcaterra.com.