With a smile on her face, Marie Antoinette (Rigolizzo) Cappuccio, 90, passed away on July 15, 2021. She was surrounded by her loving family, ready to join her husband of 69 years, Anthony, in heaven. Marie always said Anthony was the light and love of her life.
Ahead of her time, Marie left Hammonton, N.J. to get her R.N. from University of Pennsylvania and worked as a nurse periodically throughout her life. She maintained her nursing license until the age of 89. Marie’s belief that women can be successful at home and in a career led her to help establish the League for the Education and Advancement of Registered Nurses. She was a member of numerous boards including the Board of Runnells Hospital and the Regional Board for the American Cancer Society. Her philanthropic efforts extended through volunteering with the VA, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Wounded Warrior Project and many local charities. Marie’s goal was to build everyone through health and education.
Upon marrying her husband, Anthony, and moving to Central New Jersey, Marie made sure to focus on her family. Her two children, Ron and Marie, helped inspire her creativity. Besides making them a special birthday cake every year, Marie’s baking for her children soon began to become baking for the community. She won awards for her cakes and her recipes have appeared in over 10 cookbooks throughout the east coast. Her time spent with friends was filled with laughter, and even a feature in the newspaper. Not one to remain idle, Marie loved shopping with her daughter, Marie, talking politics with her son, Ron, spiritual time with her daughter-in-law, Susan, and discussing life with Marc Zangwill. She ran up phone bills talking with her granddaughter Sondra Nicole (and sharing her baking techniques) and her eyes would light up every time she saw her grandson RJ.
In the last years of her life, Marie loved getting vanilla frozen custard with Les Vail and shared with him that her favorite sound was the plastic spoon scraping the bottom of the Styrofoam cup as she was getting to the end of the ice cream. Marie lived with her husband in many places, including Haddonfield, Scotch Plains, N.J. and the Poconos before deciding to relocate to Georgia. After more than 20 years living on Skidaway Island, Ga., Marie and Anthony returned to New Jersey and resided in Cherry Hill.
Although Marie thought she would pass before her husband, her calling was to remain here for a few more months to share life lessons with her family. She spent the remainder of her life living with her granddaughter, Sondra Nicole, and her adopted grandson, Les. In her final days, Marie gathered her family for a trip to the boardwalk, ordered favors for her own funeral and reminded her granddaughter of all the cards needed to be sent to friends and loved ones. Marie believed a card or small gift could brighten anyone’s day.
She headed into heaven to join her parents; brothers, John I. Rigolizzo and Joseph A. Riggs; and her husband, Anthony.
She is deeply missed by her children, grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held July 22, 2021, 10 a.m. followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Christ Our Light, 402 N. Kings Highway, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 and entombment at Calvary Cemetery. Instead of flowers, donations in her name can be sent to: ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 (stjude.org) or Wounded Warrior Project (support.woundedwarriorproject.org).
Please visit schetterfh.com. Arrangements made by Schetter Funeral Home.