John Lazzaretto Obituary

Lazzaretto, John B. 85, of Rockford died Friday, June 6, 2014 at home. Born in Centerville, IA to George and Marguerita (Cora) Lazzaretto. Served in the US Army. John worked for Laborer's Local #152 for 33 years. Member of the American Legion in Highland Park and Veterans of Foreign Wars in Highwood, IL. Generous man, always willing to help a neighbor, friend, or family member. Great story teller (life on a farm in Iowa, growing up with his five siblings, how they maintained their Italian traditions with cooking and family gatherings). Great cook, always by taste and instinct. Gardener, Incredible Handyman, could build or fix anything! Humble, never sang his own praises. Happy and content with the simple things in life. Loved the outdoors, knew the birds by their calls and laughed at his battles with chipmunks, raccoons, squirrels, deer who dared to enter his property. Survivors: wife, Angie (DePerte); sons, John M. (Amy) Lazzaretto of Lake Forest, IL and Ted Lazzaretto of Gurnee, IL; daughter, Jeanne (Steve) Roggensack of Loves Park, IL, Lynn (Mike) Thompson of LaCanada, CA, Sara (Jeff Anderson) Moore of Glenview, IL, and Laura (Jim) Morgan of Columbia, SC; sister, Jennie Maddalon; grandchildren, Kristen (Grant) Strom, Michael Lazzaretto, Brennan Lazzaretto, Luca Lazzaretto, Ellie Lazzaretto, Christian Roggensack, Jacob Roggensack, Lexi Roggensack, Dana (Khris) Griffis, Christa (Matt) Chase, Steven (Jennifer) Glover, Nicole (Jason) Kushner, Matthew Morgan and Luke Morgan; great-grandchildren, Harley and Olivia Kushner, along with her siblings Nate and Lexie, Jonathan and Lela Glover, Gavin and Layla Strom, Jacob and Connor Chase; numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents, George and Marguerita; brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph (Rosanne) Lazzaretto and Valentine (Mary) Lazzaretto; sister and brothers-in-law, Mary (Bino) DalPonte and Rose (Martin) Tagliapietra and brother-in-law, Angelo Maddalon. Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Drive, Rockford, IL 61109. Entombment in Warren Cemetery, Gurnee, IL. Visitation Tuesday, June 10, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory (Mulford Chapel) 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital. Express online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.