Ilah B. Randazzo, of Methuen, and formerly of North Andover, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law with whom she resided. She passed peacefully from this life surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Randazzo, or "Brownie", as she was affectionately known to her family and friends, was born on December 2, 1920 in Atkins, Arkansas, daughter of the late Bessie and Enoch Cooksey. With little formal education but a lot of hard work, she moved to Little Rock and was employed as a telephone operator. It was there that she met the Hon. Anthony J. Randazzo, (Ret.) an Army captain stationed in Little Rock. In 1946, Brownie, who was raised as a Southern Baptist, travelled far from Arkansas to marry Randy, a Sicilian boy from Lawrence, Massachusetts. Brownie quickly became an integral part of her husband's family, learning to cook Italian dishes from her mother-in-law. Her husband used to say that when she first joined the family she used to get migraine headaches but it wasn't long before she was yelling louder than everyone else. Brownie and Randy shared 55 years of marriage, raising three children, until his death in 2001.
Brownie was an avid fisherwoman and as a member of the Merrimack Valley Striper's Club, captured many trophies for landing the largest striper of the season. She also took up skiing in her fifties and continued to enjoy the sport until forced to the sidelines by osteoporosis. Throughout her life, her primary concern was for her husband and her children, and later her grandchildren. She was a constant presence in her grandchildren's life, particularly Jeffrey and Megan, as she took care of them when her daughter returned to work. Brownie also enjoyed tinkering and even helped her son-in-law, Neal, work on the Mustang that he was restoring. She did this when she was in her mid-eighties.
Brownie is survived by her sons, Anthony J. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Dr. Richard L. of Barrington, RI.; her daughter, Attorney Anne L. Randazzo Laurenza and son-in-law, Neal, of Methuen, with whom she made her home; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Megan Hanewich of Methuen, Lee and Stephanie Randazzo of Barrington, RI, and Evan Randazzo of Ispwich, MA. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Jewel and Harold Railey of Little Rock, Ark., brothers and sisters-in-law, Albert and Eunice Cooksey and Bervin and Wanda Cooksey of Atkins, Arkansas; sister-in-law Mary Moschetto of California; nephews and their wives, Anthony and Sue Randazzo of Haverhill and Thomas and Peg Moschetto of Westford; nieces Laura Jean Walsh of Chicago, Illinois and Camille Foster of California; and several nieces and nephews in Arkansas and California. She was predeceased by her sister Lorene of Illinois and brothers, Pete and Ben of Arkansas; brothers-in-law and wives, Carmen and Eleanor Randazzo and Sam and Lena Randazzo, and brother-in-law Joe Randazzo.
Brownie's dry sense of humor, her tremendous cooking skills, and her unending willingness to help family and friends will be sorely missed. She was truly loving and loved throughout her lifetime and will be thought of often and fondly by all who knew and loved her.
Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 9A.M. at St. Michael's Church in North Andover. Burial will follow in Ridgewood Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 2-4 and 6 - 9 P.M. at the Conte Funeral Home, 17 Third Street, North Andover.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sons of Italy Scholarship Fund, c/o 155 Marston Street, Lawrence, MA 01841.
Mrs. Randazzo, or "Brownie", as she was affectionately known to her family and friends, was born on December 2, 1920 in Atkins, Arkansas, daughter of the late Bessie and Enoch Cooksey. With little formal education but a lot of hard work, she moved to Little Rock and was employed as a telephone operator. It was there that she met the Hon. Anthony J. Randazzo, (Ret.) an Army captain stationed in Little Rock. In 1946, Brownie, who was raised as a Southern Baptist, travelled far from Arkansas to marry Randy, a Sicilian boy from Lawrence, Massachusetts. Brownie quickly became an integral part of her husband's family, learning to cook Italian dishes from her mother-in-law. Her husband used to say that when she first joined the family she used to get migraine headaches but it wasn't long before she was yelling louder than everyone else. Brownie and Randy shared 55 years of marriage, raising three children, until his death in 2001.
Brownie was an avid fisherwoman and as a member of the Merrimack Valley Striper's Club, captured many trophies for landing the largest striper of the season. She also took up skiing in her fifties and continued to enjoy the sport until forced to the sidelines by osteoporosis. Throughout her life, her primary concern was for her husband and her children, and later her grandchildren. She was a constant presence in her grandchildren's life, particularly Jeffrey and Megan, as she took care of them when her daughter returned to work. Brownie also enjoyed tinkering and even helped her son-in-law, Neal, work on the Mustang that he was restoring. She did this when she was in her mid-eighties.
Brownie is survived by her sons, Anthony J. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Dr. Richard L. of Barrington, RI.; her daughter, Attorney Anne L. Randazzo Laurenza and son-in-law, Neal, of Methuen, with whom she made her home; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Megan Hanewich of Methuen, Lee and Stephanie Randazzo of Barrington, RI, and Evan Randazzo of Ispwich, MA. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Jewel and Harold Railey of Little Rock, Ark., brothers and sisters-in-law, Albert and Eunice Cooksey and Bervin and Wanda Cooksey of Atkins, Arkansas; sister-in-law Mary Moschetto of California; nephews and their wives, Anthony and Sue Randazzo of Haverhill and Thomas and Peg Moschetto of Westford; nieces Laura Jean Walsh of Chicago, Illinois and Camille Foster of California; and several nieces and nephews in Arkansas and California. She was predeceased by her sister Lorene of Illinois and brothers, Pete and Ben of Arkansas; brothers-in-law and wives, Carmen and Eleanor Randazzo and Sam and Lena Randazzo, and brother-in-law Joe Randazzo.
Brownie's dry sense of humor, her tremendous cooking skills, and her unending willingness to help family and friends will be sorely missed. She was truly loving and loved throughout her lifetime and will be thought of often and fondly by all who knew and loved her.
Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 9A.M. at St. Michael's Church in North Andover. Burial will follow in Ridgewood Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 2-4 and 6 - 9 P.M. at the Conte Funeral Home, 17 Third Street, North Andover.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sons of Italy Scholarship Fund, c/o 155 Marston Street, Lawrence, MA 01841.
Ilah B. Randazzo, of Methuen, and formerly of North Andover, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at the home of her daughter and son-in-law with whom she resided. She passed peacefully from this life surrounded by her loving family.
Mrs. Randazzo, or "Brownie", as she was affectionately known to her family and friends, was born on December 2, 1920 in Atkins, Arkansas, daughter of the late Bessie and Enoch Cooksey. With little formal education but a lot of hard work, she moved to Little Rock and was employed as a telephone operator. It was there that she met the Hon. Anthony J. Randazzo, (Ret.) an Army captain stationed in Little Rock. In 1946, Brownie, who was raised as a Southern Baptist, travelled far from Arkansas to marry Randy, a Sicilian boy from Lawrence, Massachusetts. Brownie quickly became an integral part of her husband's family, learning to cook Italian dishes from her mother-in-law. Her husband used to say that when she first joined the family she used to get migraine headaches but it wasn't long before she was yelling louder than everyone else. Brownie and Randy shared 55 years of marriage, raising three children, until his death in 2001.
Brownie was an avid fisherwoman and as a member of the Merrimack Valley Striper's Club, captured many trophies for landing the largest striper of the season. She also took up skiing in her fifties and continued to enjoy the sport until forced to the sidelines by osteoporosis. Throughout her life, her primary concern was for her husband and her children, and later her grandchildren. She was a constant presence in her grandchildren's life, particularly Jeffrey and Megan, as she took care of them when her daughter returned to work. Brownie also enjoyed tinkering and even helped her son-in-law, Neal, work on the Mustang that he was restoring. She did this when she was in her mid-eighties.
Brownie is survived by her sons, Anthony J. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Dr. Richard L. of Barrington, RI.; her daughter, Attorney Anne L. Randazzo Laurenza and son-in-law, Neal, of Methuen, with whom she made her home; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Megan Hanewich of Methuen, Lee and Stephanie Randazzo of Barrington, RI, and Evan Randazzo of Ispwich, MA. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Jewel and Harold Railey of Little Rock, Ark., brothers and sisters-in-law, Albert and Eunice Cooksey and Bervin and Wanda Cooksey of Atkins, Arkansas; sister-in-law Mary Moschetto of California; nephews and their wives, Anthony and Sue Randazzo of Haverhill and Thomas and Peg Moschetto of Westford; nieces Laura Jean Walsh of Chicago, Illinois and Camille Foster of California; and several nieces and nephews in Arkansas and California. She was predeceased by her sister Lorene of Illinois and brothers, Pete and Ben of Arkansas; brothers-in-law and wives, Carmen and Eleanor Randazzo and Sam and Lena Randazzo, and brother-in-law Joe Randazzo.
Brownie's dry sense of humor, her tremendous cooking skills, and her unending willingness to help family and friends will be sorely missed. She was truly loving and loved throughout her lifetime and will be thought of often and fondly by all who knew and loved her.
Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 9A.M. at St. Michael's Church in North Andover. Burial will follow in Ridgewood Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 2-4 and 6 - 9 P.M. at the Conte Funeral Home, 17 Third Street, North Andover.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sons of Italy Scholarship Fund, c/o 155 Marston Street, Lawrence, MA 01841.
Mrs. Randazzo, or "Brownie", as she was affectionately known to her family and friends, was born on December 2, 1920 in Atkins, Arkansas, daughter of the late Bessie and Enoch Cooksey. With little formal education but a lot of hard work, she moved to Little Rock and was employed as a telephone operator. It was there that she met the Hon. Anthony J. Randazzo, (Ret.) an Army captain stationed in Little Rock. In 1946, Brownie, who was raised as a Southern Baptist, travelled far from Arkansas to marry Randy, a Sicilian boy from Lawrence, Massachusetts. Brownie quickly became an integral part of her husband's family, learning to cook Italian dishes from her mother-in-law. Her husband used to say that when she first joined the family she used to get migraine headaches but it wasn't long before she was yelling louder than everyone else. Brownie and Randy shared 55 years of marriage, raising three children, until his death in 2001.
Brownie was an avid fisherwoman and as a member of the Merrimack Valley Striper's Club, captured many trophies for landing the largest striper of the season. She also took up skiing in her fifties and continued to enjoy the sport until forced to the sidelines by osteoporosis. Throughout her life, her primary concern was for her husband and her children, and later her grandchildren. She was a constant presence in her grandchildren's life, particularly Jeffrey and Megan, as she took care of them when her daughter returned to work. Brownie also enjoyed tinkering and even helped her son-in-law, Neal, work on the Mustang that he was restoring. She did this when she was in her mid-eighties.
Brownie is survived by her sons, Anthony J. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Dr. Richard L. of Barrington, RI.; her daughter, Attorney Anne L. Randazzo Laurenza and son-in-law, Neal, of Methuen, with whom she made her home; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Megan Hanewich of Methuen, Lee and Stephanie Randazzo of Barrington, RI, and Evan Randazzo of Ispwich, MA. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Jewel and Harold Railey of Little Rock, Ark., brothers and sisters-in-law, Albert and Eunice Cooksey and Bervin and Wanda Cooksey of Atkins, Arkansas; sister-in-law Mary Moschetto of California; nephews and their wives, Anthony and Sue Randazzo of Haverhill and Thomas and Peg Moschetto of Westford; nieces Laura Jean Walsh of Chicago, Illinois and Camille Foster of California; and several nieces and nephews in Arkansas and California. She was predeceased by her sister Lorene of Illinois and brothers, Pete and Ben of Arkansas; brothers-in-law and wives, Carmen and Eleanor Randazzo and Sam and Lena Randazzo, and brother-in-law Joe Randazzo.
Brownie's dry sense of humor, her tremendous cooking skills, and her unending willingness to help family and friends will be sorely missed. She was truly loving and loved throughout her lifetime and will be thought of often and fondly by all who knew and loved her.
Family and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 9A.M. at St. Michael's Church in North Andover. Burial will follow in Ridgewood Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday from 2-4 and 6 - 9 P.M. at the Conte Funeral Home, 17 Third Street, North Andover.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sons of Italy Scholarship Fund, c/o 155 Marston Street, Lawrence, MA 01841.
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