VICKSBURG – A Mass of Christian burial for Rose Guercio Cozzani, 100, of Vicksburg, who died Saturday, March 1, 2008, will be 10:30 a.m. today at St. Michael Catholic Church with the Rev. P.J. Curley, pastor, officiating.
Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of Riles Funeral Home in Vicksburg.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the church.
Mrs. Cozzani was born March 10, 1907, in Plaquemine, La., the eldest daughter of Salvatore and Angela DiFrancesca Guercio. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School, in Hattiesburg, class of 1926. From 1931 to 1941, she worked for National Life and Accident Insurance Company of Nashville, Tenn., with offices in Natchez and later in Vicksburg. She married Anthony “Tony” Cozzani in 1947. She and Tony were active communicants of St. Paul Catholic Church for many years and later were founding members of St. Michael Catholic Church where she was an active member of the Altar Society for over 40 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband; four brothers, James, Thomas, Joseph and Jake Guercio; and two sisters, Elizabeth Guercio and Josephine Serio.
Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Marguerite Guercio of Hattiesburg and Clarene Guercio of Natchez; a number of nieces, nephews and many friends special to her including Ann Watkins Tims of Moorhead, Lynn Watkins Betbeze of Okolona and James Watkins of Florence.
Pallbearers will be Allen Hoggatt, Timothy Timbs, Paul Banchetti, Gene Henegan, Skipper Guizerix III and Guercio nephews.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the St. Michael Catholic Church Alter Society.
Memorials may be made to St. Michael Catholic Church, 100 St. Michael Place, Vicksburg, MS 39180 or to the Anthony Cozzani Memorial Scholarship Trust in care of The Catholic Foundation, 237 East Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39201-2405.