Pauline M. Cannizzaro

Pauline M. Cannizzaro, 93, of South Burlington, passed peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Born in Sheldon, VT on May 1, 1932, Polly was the youngest child of Walter & Maria (Benoit) Brown. She grew up on the family farm in Enosburg with her ten siblings and her dog Ranger. Polly graduated from Enosburg High School, class of 1950. After high school she moved to Hartford, CT, eventually moving back to VT to work at General Electric Finance in Burlington. It was in Burlington where Polly met Rosario Cannizzaro. They were married in 1961 at St. John the Baptist Church in Enosburg, VT and enjoyed a loving marriage for 63 years prior to Rosario's passing in 2024. Polly devoted her life to caring for and maintaining strong connections with all her family. She and Rosario created a warm and welcoming home where they raised their five children, welcomed family, friends, & neighbors, and watched after their 12 grandchildren.
Polly and Rosario loved to cook, and the kitchen was the heart of their home. She and Rosario enjoyed hosting family & friends for dinner and always made extra "just in case someone drops by". Sunday dinners were her favorite when the house was filled with all her kids, their spouses, and her grandkids.
Polly lived to see all her grandchildren grow up and even the birth of two great granddaughters. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and aunt who was supportive, involved, and an integral part of all our lives. Thank you, Mom. We love you and our hearts ache at the thought both you and dad have now moved on.
An avid reader, Polly supported her community as a volunteer at The South Burlington Community Library and at Chamberlin Elementary School as a reading coach. She also volunteered at the Fletcher Allen Hospital working in the gift shop and knitting countless caps & afghans for cancer patients and premature infants. She was a faithful member of St. John Vianney Church in South Burlington and enjoyed cooking meals for church sponsored community dinners and the Salvation Army.
Polly is survived by her five children and their spouses, Anthony (Elizabeth), Lisa (Garret) Huyer, Michael (Susan), Paul (Jackie), Andrew (Thamar); twelve grandchildren, Nico & Paolo, Daniel & Lindsay, Maria & Sarina, Eric, Jamie, Nola, & Saroura, Lucas & Anya; and two great-granddaughters Kennedy & Ava. She is also survived by a special nephew Randy (Rose) Laba, her sisters-in-law Tina (Maurice) Gregoire, Joan (Angelo) Cannizzaro, and Joanne (Leo) Woolery-Brown; brothers-in-law John (Charlene) & Joseph Cannizzaro; plus numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the Cannizzaro and Brown families.
Polly was predeceased by her husband Rosario; her parents; all her siblings and their spouses Robert (Phyllis), George (Barbara), Leo, Cecile (Lawrence) Myott, Betty (Nap) Taylor, Simone (Bernard) Duquette, Fern (Gordon) Lumnah, Georgette (Joe) Laba, Laura Brown and Theresa (Norman) Du y. She was also predeceased by her brothers-in-law Corrado & Angelo Cannizzaro, and Maurice Greqoire.
A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the convenience of the family, with interment to follow. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the Quarry Hill Employee Appreciation Fund (QHEAF) at The Residence at Quarry Hill, 465 Quarry Hill Rd, South Burlington VT 05403. The family wants to thank Father Tim, her doctor Alexandra Messerli, her care team from Bayada Home Health Care, and the sta at The Residence at Quarry Hill for the wonderful care of our mother and father.
Arrangements are in the care of Ready Funeral & Cremation Services.