Yvonne Patricia Nuzzo

Nuzzo, Yvonne Patricia Zig, Hon, Vonnie and Miz Yvonne were a few of her nicknames-passed away of lung cancer at her Lake Wales, FL home on Friday, December 11, 2009. She was 72 and this was not her first rodeo with cancer. In the nineties she beat leukemia, then breast cancer. Yvonne was born on May 27, 1937 in St. Louis, Missouri to Ralph and Othmar Ziegler. After Ralph tragically died in 1945, Othmar raised Yvonne, older brother Ronald and younger sister Sandra, on her own. Surely Yvonne owed more than a little of her true grit to her mother Othmar. Recently, Yvonne recalled a story from her grade school days in St. Louis. Repeatedly, a girl would push Yvonne and steal her lunch. Finally, Yvonne fought back and pinned the girl down, demanding to know if Othmar should prepare another lunch each day so that the girl could eat. So were Yvonne's charitable beginnings despite her own family's challenges. Yvonne was a roll of honor student as early as grade school at Bates School in St. Louis. She graduated from Beaumont H.S. in St. Louis in 1954 then spent two years studying at Harris Teacher's College also in St. Louis. Yvonne got her Bachelor of Science in Education at Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, MO in 1958. She enjoyed membership in the Alpha Phi Delta honor sorority at Central Missouri and she received many academic scholarships throughout her college career. In the early sixties she took classes at St. Louis University, Washington University, also in St. Louis, and at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Yvonne earned her Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of Wisconsin in 1965. Yvonne's early days of teaching go back to Sherwood Forest Camp in Lesterville, MO where she spent 17 summers as a counselor. One of her first campers fondly remembered Zig as a counselor nearly the same age as the campers. The camper also recalled Yvonne's love for singing and this thread remained throughout her life as well as a love for writing and reciting poetry. Yvonne taught physical education in the Ritenour school district in St. Louis for six years, where she received a wonderful recommendation to study and teach physical education at the University of Wisconsin. A high school student of Yvonne's in St. Louis said Yvonne encouraged her to go to college-even giving her free shelter at one point to make sure she succeeded. The same student remembered Yvonne always smiling and singing. Rent at Yvonne's trailer meant she had to give Yvonne some simple piano lessons. This is one example among many that typifies Yvonne's generosity and spirit as a friend for life. Her high school student wrote of Yvonne in a poem: What I have learned of life from her will never, ever fade. Yvonne married Samuel Alphonse Nuzzo, Sam, in 1968 in Dade, WI where they lived for 20 years before moving to Lake Wales, FL. Yvonne was a mother to five children, four of Sam's and one she had with Sam. She loved them all deeply and completely with her big heart. Yvonne always made sure she had ample time with her grandkids at her cabin on lake DuBay. While a wife and mother Yvonne found time to become a master organic gardener, carpenter and birder and she gained an even bigger love of wetlands and the outdoors. Her love of nature rubbed off on all of those close to her. Later in life, Yvonne became a world traveler, enjoying Africa, Peru, Costa Rica and the Galapagos. After an African safari trip a friend of Yvonne's recalled the group's awe at a large elephant sighting but it was Yvonne who pointed out the rare and tiny bird on the elephant's back. She said, Yvonne saw God in every bird, every sunrise, every person she met. Through these travels Yvonne's friends grew from legions in St. Louis, Madison and Lake Wales but also across the globe. She had friends from Africa visiting in 1997 when her beloved Sam passed away. It was after 1997 that Yvonne became even more enmeshed in the central Florida community, volunteering at the beautiful Bok tower gardens near Lake Wales. Here she made many more friends and shared her love of flora. On Yvonne's own gorgeous property on Lake Pierce she passionately worked as a naturalist, continually striving to restore the fourteen acres to native plants. In 1998 Yvonne had a large mural painted in the guest house depicting the wild beauty of the property and as a tribute to her husband Sam. In 2002 the Lake Wales Ledger did a feature story on Yvonne and her restoration of the land. This is a passion she carried to the very end of her life and the beauty of the property is a testament to her dedication. Yvonne survived the 2004 hurricanes hunkered down in her hallway. With the help of friends and family her land eventually erased the hurricane's damage. It is no wonder Yvonne wished to spend her final weeks on Lake Pierce in Florida enjoying the birds, trees, plants and animals. Yvonne never failed to turn adversity into something beautiful. Her last days were also spent enjoying the company of family, old friends and new found friends in the gorgeous setting of cypress trees and long leaf pines she had nurtured and chosen. And she was still singing. Those closest to Yvonne can't remember her as a complainer. Yvonne was always too concerned about others to wallow in her own pain. She was a friend and family member who would give anything of herself and a champion of all people in her life. Yvonne believed in and taught forgiveness and unconditional love and her kinship as a human being was a gift to any friend lucky enough to enjoy her smile. Another of Yvonne's passions was to see her family together often, and she succeeded famously at that, throwing some of the greatest reunions a family could ask for. She even planned a summer fishing trip in Canada just for Sam and his kids. The trip was enjoyed by all and Sam passed away later that fall. In the end, Yvonne needed to know that everyone was okay. A dear friend of Yvonne's and the family said it well, She was both a light and a rock. Another friend said, She attracted the light. Yvonne will be sorely missed but her beautiful spirit and lessons will always be with us. Yvonne is survived by her children Kim (Eileen) Nuzzo, Mary Jill Nuzzo, Dominic (Linda) Nuzzo, Tony (Diane) Nuzzo, Vince (Erin) Nuzzo, fourteen grandchildren, three great grandchildren, her brother Ronald Ziegler, her sister Sandra Piva, three nieces and six nephews and their children. Yvonne: Great Grandmother, Great Aunt is also survived by cousins and friends across the country and across the world. She was predeceased by her parents and her husband Sam. Services: A visitation for Yvonne will take place Thursday evening, February 4, 2010 at Ryan Funeral home in Madison, WI. Her funeral service and burial is Friday, February 5, 2010 at St. Mary's of the Lake, Westport, WI. At the request of the family, memorial donations may be made in Yvonne Nuzzo's name to Good Shepherd Hospice, 115 South Missouri Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33815-4602. One of Yvonne's favorite lyrics to sing: I say love it is a flower and you its only seed.