Janice A. Pastizzo Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Janice A. (Ravena) Pastizzo, 70, was surrounded by God’s Angels and carried to Him on their wings on July 15, 2022 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed in the comfort of her home, with her loving family by her side. Born in Ballston Spa, NY, she was the daughter of John Ravena of Marlton, NJ and the late Philomena Desadora Ravena. Janice was happily married to Angelo Pastizzo for 51 years. She is survived by her loving husband, Angelo, her daughter, Angela, her son, Matthew (Teresa), her beloved granddaughters; Eliana, Mirabella, and Silvia Pastizzo, her father, John Ravena, her mother-in-law, Diane Pastizzo, her sisters; Joan (Milton) Craner and Jayne (Kevin) Cowden, her brothers-in-law; Christopher (Virginia) Pastizzo and Andrew (Marilyn) Pastizzo, her sisters-in-law; Donna (Sheryl) Bailie, Toni (Tom-late) Walsh, her godmother, Clara (Harry-late) Peartree, her long time friend, Julie (Matthew) Ross, and many aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends. She is predeceased by her mother, Philomena Desadora Ravena, her Aunt, Gertrude (Angelo) DeChants, her Uncle, Leo (Nancy) Desadora, her father-in-law, Angelo L. Pastizzo and her grandmothers; Mary (William) Desadora and Mary (Frank) Ravena. After graduating from the Academy of the Holy Names high school, she attended Albany Medical Center School of Nursing and began her lifelong pursuit of helping others, while working in the AMC’s intensive care unit. With her boundless energy, selfless and unconditional love, she continued her education, later in life, while raising a family and running a business. She earned several degrees, culminating in a Master of Arts degree in Health Psychology from Empire State College in 2004. After many years of working as the Health & Fitness Director at the Southern Saratoga YMCA, Janice’s creative vision and lifelong passion for helping people led her to opening her own business, Fit for Life Wellness Center, in 1998. For more than 20 years, she served as an inspirational and charismatic leader, counseling and motivating countless others to lead healthier lifestyles. She was incredibly generous with her time, energy, and resources, constantly giving so much of herself to others and her community; most recently, serving as a volunteer instructor of exercise classes to cancer survivors and caregivers at Hope Club, and providing impactful support to area hospitals, The Regional Foodbank and local educational institutions. Janice thoroughly enjoyed celebrating and living life to the fullest; whether throwing a party or planning a fundraising event, she made a lasting impact by encouraging so many others to embrace and adopt her philanthropic values. So full of life, with an infectious smile, Janice lifted up everyone around her, always overflowing with, and instilling confidence in others, remembering everyone, every birthday, and every occasion. “Gram” reserved a special place in her heart for her three granddaughters and will watch over them from Heaven. Her deepest hope was that all of those blessed to know her, carry her positive energy and generous spirit with them, continuing to make our world a better place. Funeral services will be Monday July 25, 2022 at 9:15 am from the Philip J. Brendese Funeral Home and at 10 am at St. Mary’s Church in Crescent. Entombment will follow at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Niskayuna. Relatives and friends may visit with her family at the funeral home on Sunday July 24 from 2-5 pm.

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Janice A. Pastizzo

March 13, 1952 - July 15, 2022