Antonia "Pitusa" Rizo, departed her loving family at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, November 12, 2021, in Georgetown, Texas. Antonia was born on December 7, 1926, to Rafael and Antonia del Toro in Tetuán, Morocco, a Spanish Protectorate. She was the middle child of six daughters (Amparo, Rafaela, Elisa, Dolores & Araceli). She was preceded in death by her husband, Pedro Rizo and is survived by her daughters Assumption "Sunti" Deale (husband Johnny Deale) and Maria Amparo Atkinson (husband Steve Atkinson), sisters Rafaela "Chichi" and Dolores "Loli".

While in Morocco, Antonia's father worked as a statistician for the Spanish government and was assigned a transfer to Tarragona, Spain when his daughters were still very young. In 1936, the Spanish Civil War erupted. Antonia was only ten years old. In the three-year span of the war, all of Antonia's family suffered great indignities, hardships, starvation, and a perpetual fear for the safety of each other. Throughout the horrors of war, while the family struggled to survive, there was also a renewed strength in their love for each other, a force that united them forever.

A few years after the civil war ended in 1939, Antonia's family moved back to Morocco to continue their lives and regain strength in their friends, familiar surroundings, and the culture of the Spanish Protectorate. In her teens, Antonia met Pedro Rizo, whose family had many businesses in Tetuán including the Café Nacional where he worked. After a long courtship, they married and began their life together. Sadly, their first child, Pedrito, died at 18 months but they later welcomed their daughters, Sunti and Amparo. In 1961, Pedro and Antonia said a heartfelt goodbye to their friends and families and moved to Milford, Delaware, the United States. Not knowing the English language and culture, it was another hardship in Antonia's life. While Pedro found promising work and loved the American culture, she struggled with acclimating into the culture and missed her family intensely. Nonetheless, she always kept her head up with a positive attitude for all who surrounded her, especially her daughters.

Antonia will be remembered as a selfless, dedicated wife and mother whose experience in the war molded her inner strength, serenity, love of family and an incredible talent in the kitchen. Her true gift was cooking and sewing. She produced wonderful dishes and couture style clothing that turned every eye. Her devotion to the Catholic faith helped fuel her lifelong spirit of joy, humor, strong temperament, and integrity in all things.

Antonia is also survived by her loving grandchildren, Gabriel & Andrea Deale, Alex & Kyle McCollum, Jennifer & Josh Ogilvie, Steven S. Atkinson and Stephanie Atkinson. She also enjoyed five beautiful great grandchildren and an abundance of nieces and nephews in Spain, France, Venezuela, and Colombia.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the Alzheimer's Association at alz.org in memory of Antonia.

A private family service was held.

Arrangements made in the care of Ramsey Funeral Home, 5600 Williams Dr., Georgetown, Texas 78633.