Lorraine Carol Rizzo

She was born and grew up in Lynn, MA and graduated from Lynn Classical HS. She was the daughter of the late Stanley and Saveria (Maffei) Rizzo. She was one of five children, including brother Stan "Junie" Rizzo and his wife Teddi of Florida, sister Ann Sweeney and her late husband Bob of Maryland and Georgia, the late Al "Sonny" Rizzo and his late wife Lois of Pennsylvania and Arizona, and the late Gioacchino "Jack" Rizzo and his late wife Deanna of Massachusetts.

Lorraine was a beloved aunt to Marilyn Rizzo of Pittsburgh, PA and Boston, MA, Tony Sweeney and his wife Ria of Atlanta, GA, Anne-Marie Gisriel and her husband Ken of Columbia, MD, Billy Sweeney and his wife Emi of Hawaii, Gia Leach and her former husband Russ of Lynnfield, MA, Dante Rizzo of Lynnfield, MA and Adriana Wheeler and her husband Allan of Lynnfield, MA, and 9 great-nieces and nephews including Kyle, Justin, Dario, Gianna, Rocco, Enzo, Matteo, Massimo, Luca. She also leaves long time friend, Marcia Benser. In our family, she was known simply as "Auntie" and we are all better people for having known her.

Lorraine loved animals, travel, the arts, and family. She also loved her career in nursing, which spanned 40 years! Her higher education included a Diploma from Lynn Hospital Nursing School, a Bachelor’s Degree from Northeastern University, and a Master's Degree in Nursing from Simmons College.

She began working at Tufts New England Medical Center in the 1970s and was a trailblazer in this field. She continued her education to become a Nurse Practitioner at a time when the program was in its infancy. In this capacity, she became one of the "founding mothers" of a then experimental concept called Primary Care. She was known by her colleagues at Tufts New England Medical Center as having extraordinary clinical skills and for creating strong bonds with her patients. Perhaps more importantly, Lorraine was known as a funny, warm and joyful friend and colleague. Her quick wit and ready smile were known to many.

In many ways, Lorraine made the world a better place. She will be sorely missed. If you were lucky enough to know Lorraine, you were indeed lucky.

A visitation will be held at the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home (157 Maple St., Lynn) on Tuesday afternoon July 16 from 4:00-8:00 PM. Friends and relatives are invited to attend. There will be a private burial the following morning at St. Joseph Cemetery in Lynn.

Memorial donations may be made to bestfriends.org or to Tufts Hospital at [email protected]. Mailing address: Tufts Medical Center Development Office, 800 Washington Street, #231, Boston, MA 02111.