Radmila 'Mila' V. Rizzo

LANCASTER - Radmila (Mila) V. Rizzo, 65, Lancaster, NH resident, passed Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at her home in Lancaster. Visitation hours will be on Thursday, December 19, from 5:00 to 8:00pm at Bailey Funeral Home, 210 Main Street, Lancaster, NH, with a gathering to celebrate her life to follow in the spring of 2014, date TBA. Mila Rizzo was born on June 13, 1948 in the Czech Republic to Mr. and Mrs. Josef Vojta. She attended Charles University in Prague where she earned a degree in Natural Sciences. After she graduated, Mila immigrated to the United States where she lived between Chicago Illinois and Beverly Hills, California, and, eventually, settled down in Lancaster, New Hampshire. During her time in Chicago and Beverly Hills, Mila worked in the travel industry, in which her occupations evolved from flight attendant to manager of a Czech Airline branch to a business partner of an airline agency. While her first career path was Travel, since childhood, Mila's heart had always been with the animals.One of her first brushes with animal activism occurred when Mila was eight years old and living in Tabor in the Czech Republic. Upon witnessing an owner beating his horse, young Mila stepped infront of the grown man and started kicking and screaming to come between horse and abusive owner.This early incident reflects, and would become one of many examples of, her fierce spirit and commitment to the humane treatment of all creatures. When she lived in Chicago, Mila was highly engaged with The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Shedd Aquarium. After she relocated to Lancaster, NH, along with her husband and son, in 1980, between 1984 and 1985, Mila opened up a local health food store, "Nature's Basics," as well as the LancasterHumane Society. Lancaster Humane Society is one of the first no-kill shelters in the country. Mila was also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for the New Hampshire Fish & Game Department. Along with her love of animals, Mila's passions included, hiking, gardening, cooking, swimming and spending quality time with her son, Peter, and Jack Russell Terrier, Tessa. Through and through, Mila held a deep reverence for all life and touched the lives and hearts of everyone with whom she connected. Mila is survived by her son, Peter Rizzo, 34, her sisterSvetlaBalysova, her nieces, PavlaVernerova ,Kristyna El-Hassanova, and VeronikaVerner, as well as her nephew, Jiri Verner. I lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Mila Rizzo Memorial Fund at the Passumpsic Savings Bank, Main Street, Lancaster, NH.

Radmila 'Mila' V. Rizzo

June 13, 1948 - December 11, 2013