Virginia (Holler) Pizzuti

Virginia (Holler) Pizzuti, 97, died peacefully in her Florida home on June 17, 2025.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday, June 27, at the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle with Rev. J.A. Small officiating. Burial will be at Peru City Cemetery. Visitation will be in the funeral home from 10:00 AM until time of services.

She was the youngest and last surviving of 9 children of Jennie Koerner Holler and Irvin Holler of Kasbeer, Illinois. She lived with her husband of 55 years, Rocco Pizzuti, in La Salle, Illinois, where they raised their son, Michael Pizzuti, now living in Peoria, Illinois with his wife Linda Fink Pizzuti. Virginia had two granddaughters, Jennifer and Christina, five great grandchildren, Jennifer’s Ivy, 11, and twins Evelyn and Ryker, 6; and Christina’s Lucas, 6, and Annie, 2, and well over 100 nieces, nephews and their progeny. 

Virginia was very happily married to Rocco. They met at the end of World War II.  Rocco had just returned from serving in the U.S. Army in Europe as a truck and jeep driver and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.  They married in 1952. Virginia revered the fact that, while they adored each other, Rocco never felt he owned her.  She freely traveled with her older sister, Lois, and other friends.  She and Rocco would also travel occasionally, enjoyed fishing together, and they both reveled in raising their son Michael.  Virginia later recalled that bringing Michael into the world was her most memorable moment.

Rocco died in 2007 of a sudden brain aneurysm.  While the death of her husband caused her major pain, Virginia continued living independently in central Illinois, driving, shopping, going on casino trips with friends.  Then in 2021, after some health setbacks, her late sister Lois’ youngest daughter, Charyl Dean Thew and her husband Greg Thew, invited her to move into their new home in Panama City Beach, Florida.  In 2023-2024 the three of them took a 7-day New Year’s Caribbean cruise.  Virginia later described it as one of the top adventures.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Emerald Coast Hospice, 401 E. 23rd St, Suite C, Panama City, FL, 32405 in the memory of Virginia Pizzuti.

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