Anita M. Rizzo

Anita Marilyn (Willens) Rizzo, 92, formerly of Milford and Marlborough, MA passed away on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at St. Patrick’s Manor in Framingham.  She was the wife of the late Michael J. Rizzo who died in 2013.  She was born and raised in Boston, the daughter of Benjamin and Esther (Katz) Willens and graduated high school in Valley Stream, NY. Anita worked as a secretary for several companies throughout the years.  She was an accomplished writer, publishing inspirational poetry as well as a weekly column in the Franklin Sentinel newspaper titled “Parenthetically Speaking.” These columns offered a humorous look into the trials and tribulations of her family life with titles such as, “Family Trees – Where the Nuts Are”, “Shopping Bills and Husbands: They Don’t Mix” and “What Do You Say to a Naked Lady With a Hat On?”

She also enjoyed cooking, reading, rug hooking and creating dimensional paintings and jewelry with her husband, Michael. They traveled throughout New England displaying and selling their unique artwork through their business, Lovers Loot. Anita’s most treasured role was that of devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

She leaves four daughters, Rolande Parent of Hopkinton, Gigi Halsing of Plainville, Janet Orlando of Northbridge, and Valorie Parent of Lancaster; two sons, Michael Rizzo and his wife, Karen, of Manchester, Connecticut and Paul Rizzo of Irvine, California; two brothers, Kenneth Willens and his wife, Ann, of Brockton and Richard Willens and his wife, Carol, of Peabody; two sisters, Joanne Willens of Newton and Nan Noble and her husband, Jim, of Westborough. She was predeceased by her brothers, Charles Willens and Mel Willens and her sister, Bernice Heyman. Anita will also be missed by her nine grandchildren, Heidi Buvair, Jason Halsing, Jillian Ciriello, Corinne Orlando, Amberly McCurdy, Dennis Rizzo, Lily Lukaszevicz and Leo Lukaszevicz; her 13 great-grandchildren, Peyton, Addison, Emerson, Ryan, Bailey, Ava, Ella, Nico, Amelia, Brooklyn, Michael, Julian and Stella; and many dear nieces and nephews.  

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, October 19 at 10:00 AM in the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough. A time of visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:00-9:45 AM. Burial at the National Cemetery in Bourne, alongside her beloved husband, Michael, will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thayer Memorial Library which provided Anita with an endless supply of the books she so loved to read. Donations can be mailed to 717 Main Street, Lancaster, MA 01523.  All are invited to sign Anita’s online guestbook at www.collinsfuneral.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.