Jetta Sanfilippo Mazzu, 94, of Beaumont, died Tuesday, December 24, 2013, in the company of her family, completing her long journey on Earth. Jetta was born on April 28, 1919, in Shreveport, Louisiana, one of nine children. Her family moved to Santa Rosa, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, where Jetta grew up and attended local schools. In high school she played on the basketball team and maintained a love of the sport her whole life. While growing up in the Valley, Jetta worked on the family farm picking cotton and during high school worked at a local tomato canning factory.
In December of 1937, Jetta married Jess Mazzu of Beaumont and moved to the city where they lived, made their home and raised their family over the years. Jetta had several interests in her adult life. She enjoyed music and for several years sang in her church choir, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, of which she and Jess were long standing members. She also enjoyed gardening and truly had a green thumb, working magic with broken twigs and cuttings and bringing them to life. She loved arts and crafts and spent many hours creating various objects of beauty for others enjoyment. Jetta enjoyed cooking and was a master in the kitchen with fresh produce from the family garden. She loved the opportunity to travel whenever possible to visit new places. She was a person of great faith. She had a special devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help attending weekly devotions. While her children were in Assumption school, Jetta donated her time and talents to the school library. She was truly committed lovingly to both her family and her church.
Jetta is preceded in death by her parents, Pasquale and Catherine Sanfilippo; her five siblings; her husband of seventy-one years, Jess Mazzu; daughter-in-law, Patty Mazzu; and great-grandson, Joshua Marcantel.
Survivors include her siblings, Sam Sanfilippo, Vida Thebeau and Mary Ann Zapolski; her children and their spouses, Patricia and Jim Rigamonti; Tom and Karen Mazzu; Edward Mazzu and his partner, Tim Higley; Marilyn and Rick McClory; Debbie and Tommy Ellison; and Margaret and Steve Thompson; twelve grandchildren, Ken Mazzu, Andrea Rigamonti Donart, Kristi Rigamonti Marcantel, Danny Rigamonti, Eric McClory, Kevin McClory, Brian McClory, Theresa McClory Tarantino, Rob Ellison, Lisa Ellison, Amber Thompson Lawrence and Lindsey Thompson. She was also blessed with seeing and loving twenty great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.
During these last four and a half years, Jetta lived at Sabine Oaks Home. Her family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all those who cared for her in her last years there.
A Christian Vigil for Mrs. Mazzu was at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 26, 2013, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, December 27, at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 4445 Avenue A, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Memory Gardens of Jefferson County, Nederland.
Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, 4445 Avenue A, Beaumont, Texas 77705.
