Darlene Joyce Rizzo Obituary (2024)

Darlene Rizzo, best known for her maternal demeanor, fondness for sweets and earnest love for her family and pets, died in Nampa, Idaho on October 27, 2024. She was 90. Harry and Margurite Tallman welcomed Darlene into the world on August 30, 1934, in Everett, Washington where they raised her alongside her sister Carolyn Tallman Stevens. The family moved often during Darlene's early childhood; she never went to the same schools two years in a row which contributed to her shy and reserved demeanor with non-family members. On January 17, 1951, Darlene married Carmelo "Carl" H. Rizzo, her husband of 57 years, in Ephrata, Washington. Darlene and Carl moved to Yakima, Washington in 1956, where they raised their four children and opened several businesses. In the late '60s, she opened Darlene's Draperies, one of the very few women-owned businesses catering to interior design in the greater Yakima Valley area for more than 10 years. Later, after her first grandchild was born, Darlene and Carl opened the children's clothing store, Baby Carousel, to get better access to children's clothing and furnishings. Finally, as a result of her love of movies she opened the video rental store, Carousel Video, during the VHS boom in the late '80s. They were parishioners of Holy Family Catholic Church and St. Paul's Catholic Church. The couple built and sold several houses alongside a small plot of farmland they operated to rear cattle, dubbed the "Rizzo Ranch," in Gleed, Washington. The couple semi-retired in 1986 and set out RVing across the country and wintering in Yuma, Arizona. She is remembered as a devoted wife, caring mother and doting grandmother, that spent nearly all her life surrounded by her loving family. Darlene is survived by her four children, Kathy (Rizzo) Varney of Lacey, Washington, Michael Rizzo of Sacramento, California, Anthony Rizzo of Yakima, Washington and Carl Rizzo of Nampa, Idaho, her 11 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren and her cat Tommy. Her family wishes to thank the hospice caregivers who helped her in her final days. FUNERAL SERVICE for Darlene at 11:00am on Friday, November 22, 2024, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Moxee, Washington, followed by GRAVESIDE SERVICE at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. RECEPTION at 1:00pm at Shaw & Sons Funeral Home, Yakima. Brookside Funeral Home & Crematory - Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com