Catherine Mary Prizio

Catherine Mary (Lavanga) Prizio, 96, of Worcester passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at St. Vincent Hospital after a brief illness. She was born in Worcester on August 10, 1912, the fourth of seven children to Vito and Filomena (Auciello) Lavanga. She attended Worcester public schools until the age of 14, when she began working to help support her family. In 1938, Catherine married Frank Joseph Prizio, Sr., her husband until death separated them in 1994. Her daughter, Rose Prizio DeMarco, passed away in 1999. After raising her family, Catherine returned to work at the Belmont Home in Worcester until her retirement in 1977. She enjoyed traveling with her husband to Miami Beach and Hollywood, Florida where they spent many winters. She later returned to part-time work at Regatta Deli, her family's business, where she held court in the kitchen making meatballs, eggplant and Italian grinders until age 94. She very much enjoyed retelling the experiences of her youth, including sitting at the feet of her father as he entertained family and friends with elaborate stories installed in daily episodes with cliff-hanging endings. She would frequently recite from memory her favorite poem, "The Tree" by Joyce Kilmer, as recent as two days before her death. However, she always lived for the moment. On Halloween of 1998, at the age of 86, her joie-de-vie earned her a place on stage at the Roxy in Boston with the rock band The Deftones, and on that night she received rock-star adulation. Catherine leaves four sons: William (Susan) of Osprey, Florida; Frank Jr.(Rita) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Ralph (Daron) of Palm Springs, California; and Joseph (Edith Zagona) of Boulder Colorado; ten grandchildren: Angela (George) Demake, Christina (Steve) Thoren, Maria (Christopher) Blanchard, Dina (Robert) Salerno, Frank (Gisele) Prizio III, Rebecca Prizio, Melissa (Todd) Basque, Caterina Zagona Prizio, Joshua and Jacob Prizio; 11 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She leaves in many places many individuals whose lives she brightened, and whose stomachs she filled. She was predeceased by her siblings: John, Joseph, and Antoinette Lavanga, and Angelina (Ralph) Laganelli. The two remaining of her six siblings, Lucy (Pasquale) Bombredi and Mary Lavanga, were present at her bedside, as were her daughter-in-law, best friend and caregiver, Joanne Prizio, and many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, spouses and their children. She died the recipient of the Last Rites of the Roman Catholic Church, aware, comfortable, and at peace. Calling hours will be held at MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., in Worcester on Friday, March 20 from 5pm to 8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 21, at 10:30 am, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 28 Mulberry Street, Worcester. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, donations may be made in her name to charities of the givers' choice.