February 4, 1941 - October 16, 2024

Melbourne, Florida

Helene Rizzotti, 83, passed away after a 2-year long fierce battle against cancer, with her son Dan by her side throughout the entire illness. Helene fought the battle daily and never complained or said, “Why me?” She made the best out of the horrific circumstances. 

Born in New York, Helene crisscrossed the country to live in four states. She worked full time after her children were in elementary school and didn’t retire until she was in her early 60s. She was always on the go, as boredom was not in her vocabulary. Helene made many friends in each phase of life, several of which she knew for 60+ years and others she met wherever she went. She made friends easily because she was truly interested in getting to know people at a deeper level. 

Helene was incredibly loving and kind to all. She also was quick witted and had remarkable commonsense and wisdom that could take you by surprise given her unassuming nature. She read the Wall Street Journal daily, was versed on numerous topics, and loved learning new things from technology to crafts. That love of working with her mind and hands can be seen in her extraordinary paintings, sewing, and other crafts. Helene was feisty till the very end, making the nurses and doctors laugh with her spunk, knowledge of everything, and love for life. She was known to tell everyone, “Don’t sugar coat it, as I surely won’t.” Indeed, she was not afraid to speak her mind, especially in the face of wrongdoing or unfairness. That vibrancy and candor never left her. 

Helene was preceded in death by her parents, Rose and John, and her husband of 58 years Edward. She is survived by her four children (Ken Rizzotti of Ketchum, ID; Dan Rizzotti of Melbourne, FL: Lorene Duncan of Merritt Island, FL; and Nancy Canada of Freehold, NJ), five grandchildren, and her younger sister Carol Bogner of Melbourne, FL. Helene was just an amazing wife, daughter, mother, sister, friend, and grandmother. She treated everyone fairly and tried to instill in her children the core values that defined her life: hard work, honesty, and integrity. She and her late husband Ed were proud first-generation Americans who believed in God and giving back. Her favorite charities were Tunnel to Tower Foundation, Saint Jude, and Vitas Hospice.

Per Helene’s wishes, she was cremated and did not want a service or life celebration. Father John of Saint John’s Catholic Church Community conducted Last Rites, and Vitas Hospice chaplain Marcus, nurse Heather, and son Dan said the last prayer bedside as she passed in peace. She believed that spending time with people while they are alive was paramount to a post-death celebration.