Roxanne R. (rancourt) Zerio

Roxanne R. (Rancourt) Zerio, 54, of Cromwell, formerly of Wethersfield, loving wife of J. Peter Zerio for 33 years, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, July 1, 2009, after a long illness. She was born in Hartford, December 11, 1954, and was the daughter of the late Henry and Edith (Sassone) Rancourt. Roxanne graduated Summa Cum Laude from Central Connecticut State University, and received her Master?s Degree in Education from the University of Bridgeport. She was an English Teacher, teaching grades 7 through 12 in the greater Hartford area for many years. She was a very strong advocate for disabled children and held leadership positions in organizations supporting that cause. Roxanne was an accomplished equestrian who owned her own horse and trained young children to ride horses in Marlborough. Her vital spirit, quick wit, infectious laughter and loving heart will be sadly missed by her family and many friends. Beside her husband, she is survived by two sons, John-Peter Zerio and his fiancée, Sabrina Carlson of Manchester and David H. Zerio, of Cromwell; sisters and brothers-in-law, Mayrse Jensen of Albany, NY and Lillian and Andrew Letendre of West Hartford and several cousins, among them Lucille Jedidian of Wethersfield, Elaine and William 'Billy' DiCioccio and Rose Sassone, all of Newington. She was predeceased by a cousin, Ted Jedidian. Funeral service will be held Monday at 9 a.m. from the D?Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Luke's Church, 66 Bolton St., Hartford. The burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford. Calling hours are Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral chapel. Donations in Roxanne?s memory may be made to Mikey?s Place, 92 Chamberlain Rd., Wethersfield, CT 06109 or to Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 290338, Wethersfield, CT 06129-0338. For on line expressions of sympathy please visit www.desopo.com.