Elvera F. Rappazzo

ALBANY - Elvera Frances Triolo Rappazzo, 88, died Friday, April 17, 2015 at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Born in Albany, January 26, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Santo and Carmela Laviano Triolo.

Vera graduated from Vincentian Institute High School in 1944. She married Charles J. Rappazzo Sr. on April 27, 1947. Vera and Charlie ran Rappazzo Electric Company, Inc. in Albany, New York from 1955 until 1978. At that time, Vera took over the company as president. Vera and Charlie retired in 2000. During her tenure as president, Vera was named "Entrepreneur of the Year" at the Women's Business Development Center annual conference in 1989. She was commended for her involvement in area organizations and assistance in bringing women and members of minority groups into the electrical trade. Vera was an active member of Women in Construction for many years. She enjoyed crafts of many kinds and baking the world's best Italian cookies.

Vera was the mother of Maria Garland (Paul) of Wallingford, VT, Charles J. Rappazzo, Jr. (Sheila) of Colonie, and Carmela Rappazzo (Mark Carroll) of New York City; grandmother of Michael Rappazzo (Maria), Kristen Rappazzo (Charles Galentine), Kimberly Rappazzo (Aaron Nardolillo), Leah Christenson (Patrick Canavan), and Nora Christenson (Brendan Flynn); great-grandmother of Peter, Alice, Joseph, Daniel Rappazzo and Clara Flynn. She is survived by her siblings, Serena Nagi, Cecilia Rigosu, and Joseph Triolo. Vera was predeceased by her husband, Charles, and her brother Vincent Triolo and sister, Helen Mirabile.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at New Comer Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie thence to Blessed Sacrament Church, Albany at 10:00 a.m. where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Friday 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow the Mass in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery. Those wishing to remember Vera Rappazzo in a special way may send contributions to The Community Hospice, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144.