Lorraine Nizzi
March 22, 2014
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Service Details
Lorraine G. Nizzi, 93, passed away at her home on Saturday, March 22, 2014. She was born in Des Moines and lived her adult life on the Southside and Fort Des Moines Community.
Lorraine graduated from Lincoln High School. In April of 1939 she married Elisho “Al” Nizzi. During WWII she worked as a dental secretary at the Fort Des Moines Army base. In the late 1940’s and into the 1950’s she modeled for Younkers Department Store in the Tea Room as a member of the Stylettes. In 1958, Lorraine was selected as Mrs. Iowa and attended the Mrs. America competition in Fort Lauderdale with her husband.
Lorraine and Al were co-owners of Nizzi’s Tavern and Grill on Park Avenue for over 20 years. They were known for their cordial manner and service as well as great sausage sandwiches and burgers. Nizzi’s Tavern was a neighborly pub with a great heart of which Lorraine and Al served in large portions. After retiring, Lorraine also worked for Skeffington’s Formal Wear and Hy-Vee.
Lorraine was proud of her entire family. She was in frequent contact with children, grandchildren and close friends. She was living at the Residence at Christ the King. Lorraine was a founding member of Christ the King parish.
Lorraine is survived by her three children, Londa (Dennis) Jarnagin of Des Moines, Patrick (Andrea) Nizzi of Apex, North Carolina and Bob (Adelaide) Nizzi of Omaha; 19 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren. Her devoted husband Al preceded her in death in 1983.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5711 SW 9th Street followed by burial at Glendale Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday with the Rosary recited at 7 p.m. at the church.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Christ the King Catholic Church.
Online condolences may be expressed at
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Andrea Dieter Nizzi
01/30/2016
On this day, 44 years ago, my father passed away suddenly. I was 17 and it was pretty traumatic. The person I felt compelled to call was Patrick, Lorraine's youngest child. We hadn't really talked for about a year and a half, but somehow I knew he would have compassion and wisdom and faith. As our relationship developed, I saw the kindness, concern, and love demonstrated in his family. There was also lots of laughter and fun. Patrick seemed to have inherited an almost childlike ability to approach the world with creativity and optimism - and to see the best in people. In less than two months the second anniversary of Lorraine's passing will be here. I realize more as time goes by how grateful I am to her and Al. They raised a wonderful son who I am happily blessed to have been married to for 40 years. They lovingly poured their faith and values into him, Londa, and Bob, who in turn have shared these gifts in their families. Lorraine and Al have left behind a wonderful legacy of love. You all have helped fill a void I once had in my life. Thank you! Love, Andy
JoAnn Lyons
03/30/2014
I will never forget how beautiful my Aunt Lorraine was...with gorgeous green and blue eyes. Her talent for Mrs. Iowa was baking. She could just go to the cupboard and throw ingredients in a bowl and it would come out of the oven a delicious cake! My mom (Geraldine Nizzi Stefani) had a funny story of trying to prep a chicken with Lorraine from scratch...feathers and all! They got the feathers off after dipping the bird in boiling water, but when it came to pulling out the entrails neither of them could do it. After many tries of taking turns, they threw the chicken out, but they laughed about that story for years!
I know Lorraine traveled with her children and grandchildren and they have many memories of her. We inherit traights from ancestors without even knowing it, so Bob, Londa and Pat...when you catch a grandchild with that familiar smile or laugh or the certain way they are, you will know they came by it honestly...from Grandma!
Anne (McCarthy)Hemsted
03/25/2014
I will never forget my Grandma Nizzi! I have so many memories of staying the night at her house growing up. She would always make the best tortellinis and we would play golf and war card games for hours. She was always fun to be around and sometimes would say the funniest things that we still laugh about to this day! I loved joking around with her and sometimes pulling pranks-she never got mad but seemed to just love it! She was the best Grandma and i am really going to miss her.
Lou Ann Slack(Vujnovich)
03/25/2014
How fortunate I was to grow up next door to Al and Lorraine. So many memories of them. My dad and Al playing tricks on each other and comparing who,s garden was better. Lorraine sunning in a lounge lookin better than any Mom we knew in her swim suite. I learned very young that she was beautiful inside as well as out. What a class act she was. A good friend to my Mother as the years past. May God bless her family at the time. Oh yea and what would life had been like without our weekly curly dog at the Tavern?
Cassie McCarthy
03/25/2014
I have the best of memories about Nana! Like my Mom said we would go to her house watch Doris Day movies and she would always make us a big lunch and make her table beautiful! She always made tortilini soup because she knew it was my favorite. Words can't really express how much of an impact she has had on my life! She was always so loving and wonderful. Some of the best times were when she would tell stories about when she was younger and how she met Grandpa. I don't really remember grandpa since he passed away when I was small. However, Grandma and the rest of the family did such an amazing job of keeping his memory alive that I always felt like I had known him and that he also was a part of my life. For all the grandkids that are small now I know our family will never let them grow up without keeping her memory alive. Nana will always be a huge part in my heart that I will pass on to my own kids someday. I love you so much Nana!
Katy (McCarthy) Moffitt
03/25/2014
Memories of Grandma Nizzi I think of so often, and re tell them to my kids ALOT.
I remember being so excited to spend the night at her house, but I had to endure her taking my blanket from me & washing it (how could she do that:-)! After spending the night we would wake up Sunday morning & she would make us a cup of coffee (Mom didn't give us coffee when we were little;-) but it was a treat when we went there. I loved watching her put on her makeup as we would sit & drink coffee. Then off to Sunday service we went.....she kept Certs in her purse, & to a small child, getting a couple of those handed to you during church was a treat:-). She Always had them. There was a few times when I was very young she picked me up from school, we went to McDonalds and she bought me a happy meal with the newest 'crispiest' one dollar bills:-) These memories sound silly, but to a child they were Grandma Nizzi. As we got older, we enjoyed lunches at her house on her china & a movie. When I had Jack (my 3rd child), she bought me a movie & drove it up to the hospital because she was sure "I HaD to see it". I had to promise I would call her RIGHT after I watched it to let her know how I liked it. :-) I think of what meant a lot to me as a child, & the things she did sound simple now, but they meant the world to me then. I want to bring those memories to my own grandchildren when the time comes......I will miss her.
Molly Wolfe
03/25/2014
Such wonderful memories of Grandma, or as my kids always knew her, "Nana"....going over to her house and having coffee, watching Dorris Day movies (whos style always seemed similar to hers :) and pulling out the cards for rummy every time before the night was over...from memories I've heard mentioned by siblings and cousins over the years, I think she left behind the the largest group of expert rummy playing grandchildren around!! :-) her presence in my years growing up is something that had an impact on my life and always brings a smile to my face. So thankful for her. So comforted with the promise of Heaven and that she is enjoying it now as we speak!! Can't wait to see her again one day. Love you Grandma!
Zac McCarthy
03/24/2014
Very fond memories of spending time at grandma's house. Watching old movies or playing cards were activities we always looked forward to, not to mention the tortellini soup! Our comfort is knowing you're in a better place. You will be missed.
Bob Nizzi
03/24/2014
Well done Jenny! They will be splitting a can of Hams beer. Like Chris, I remember the movies and popcorn. I remember running to the green glass candy bowl to grab some orange slices and real candy canes on the Christmas tree. I remember a her laugh and love.
Chris Nizzi
03/24/2014
Jenny said it perfectly. One of my wonderful memories was spending the night at the house on Park Ave. to stay up late with grandma and watch a movie. We would share popcorn.
Gloria Stefani
03/24/2014
I have many memories of my Aunt Lorraine. The earliest and kinda funny one when all the Nizzi cousins use to gather at Grandma and Granpa's house on SW 2nd St. and most of the aunts I saw looked, what I thought at the time, was Italian. All fit my idea of Italian aunts except Lorraine. She was tall and BLONDE! and very pretty, but she sure didn't look like she fit in with everyone else. My Uncle Lay was not married to an Italian I later learned. She turned out to fit in pretty dog gone well. I am sure her large family and friends will miss her dearly and share many precious memories.
Jenny Nizzi Strako
03/23/2014
We will miss you, Grandma. Our peace is knowing you and Grandpa are together again - having a beer and celebrating his 100th birthday on Wednesday.
Thanks for all the wonderful memories. Like the time we made homemade pasta with Aunt Mary and my Mom.
We love you. Watch over us.
Jon, Jenny, Noah, Luke and Olivia Strako