Rolf Peter Panizzi

On Wednesday, November 3, 2021, with his loving wife and family close, Mr. Rolf Peter "Pete" Panizzi left us with angel wings and joined in Heaven his beautiful mother, Theresa Panizzi; dear grandmother, Omi; and lovely aunt, Rose.

Our hearts are irrevocably broken as we share the sudden passing of our very much loved and adored husband, son, father, grandfather, father-in-law, brother, uncle, nephew, loyal companion, cheerleader, and best friend. He was our undeniable hero and steadfast beacon of light who illuminated our lives with so much love and humor every day and embraced his family with unfaltering strength and encouragement throughout the years. His spirit was unconquerable. His mind was utterly brilliant. His witty humor was one-of-a-kind, and he was tireless in his pursuit of life and the very best. He was a dedicated family man who worked hard every day of his life and took immense pleasure in his various projects, woodworking, reading, cooking, tinkering, and tractors.

Mr. Panizzi’s love for his family was immeasurable and never-ending. Nothing in this life mattered more to him than his beautiful, precious wife of 50 years, his four children, and his seven grandchildren. He is incredibly missed by his wife, Catherine, and his four children, Kristina, Peter, Mike, and Angela. We hear and see him in all the things he touched and loved. We cannot comprehend the loss of this great man we all love tremendously and never thought to lose.

Mr. Panizzi loved all of his grandchildren very deeply and dearly: Ethan, 17; Kelsey, 14; Emma, 13; Aiden, 12; Alex, 12; Peyton, 9; and Ryan, 8. The grandchildren always have been his shining light. Moments with them were so very precious. He loved being their Papa and was so proud of each and every one of them. To all the grandchildren, your Papa will always love you.

Mr. Panizzi also very much loved his father, Rolf, and aunt, Rena; brothers, Frank, Ronnie, and Randy; and sister, Marietta. He truly loved and enjoyed playful banter with his daughter-in-law, Jennifer, his sons-in-law, David and Jon, and extended family. Time and distance knew no bounds.

He was unequivocally honest in every way and valued his privacy but also enjoyed time spent talking with others, whether be it a longtime friend, neighborly conversation, or a new acquaintance along his day. He was a quiet man with a calming and amiable presence, never meeting a stranger.

He loved life and would meet each day wholeheartedly with an uncanny wit and humor. He was creative, intelligent, diligent, resilient, and a self-starter and jack-of-all-trades. He believed in giving his utmost best, investing time to do things right the first time, and quality craftmanship in all things he touched. He was a fiercely passionate and dedicated protector, guardian, and patriarch. He loved his beautiful wife Cathy to no end. He was stubbornly and ardently strong for others before himself. He would extend a helping hand, words of encouragement, or just listening ear. He was a pillar of strength and compassion with a heart of gold.

Each of us holds precious memories of the man who made all of us better people.

Services for Mr. Panizzi will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at Ridout's Southern Heritage Chapel in Pelham, Alabama. Visitation will be 2-3 p.m., followed by A Service of Remembrance for Pete at 3 p.m. The gravesite committal service will be at Southern Heritage Cemetery, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL 35124.

“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day…Unseen, unheard but always near, still loved, still missed and very dear.”

"To Live in Hearts," By Thomas Campbell: “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”