Ralph Vescio Sr.

Ralph Vescio, Sr., age 80, of Saginaw, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 23, 2023. The son of Vittorio and Eugenia Vescio, Ralph was born September 3, 1942, in Conflenti, Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. He married Mary Haas on May 15, 1965. Ralph was employed at Vescio’s Grocery Store. Later, he went to work for Ray’s Food Fair and there he was their produce manager for many years and won many awards for “Best Produce Displays”. Ralph and his wife Mary, who predeceased him on April 26, 2020, were long-time members of St. Andrew Catholic Church and then merged with St. Helen, now known as Christ the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. He was involved very much with his church – he was an important facet to both St. Andrew Church and Christ the Good Shepherd Church. He served on various church committees over the years: St. Andrew Bingo Committee – Kitchen/Concessions, St. Andrew Annual Christmas Bazaars, Parish Council, Lenten Soup Suppers, Social Committee, and he served as an usher at both St. Andrew Church and Christ the Good Shepherd. However, most people knew Ralph for his incredible help in the kitchen with funeral luncheons and the Steak Sandwich and Lasagna monthly dinners at Christ the Good Shepherd Church. He also was involved with Via de Cristo Leaders and was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 4232, Saginaw, MI. He also gave back to the community at Saginaw Recreation where he coached his son’s (Charlie/Chuck) Little League Baseball teams. He was involved in the South-West Neighborhood Association, Saginaw Memorial Day Parade, and he coordinated several Spaghetti Benefit Dinners and many other events. Ralph was proud of his Italian heritage and was a member of the Sons of Italy Lodge 2456, Saginaw, MI. Between 1996 – 2018, he held board positions as Guard and Trustee. Ralph also was in the Sons of Italy Choir for many years. He was instrumental in reviving the Sons of Italy Annual Family Picnics, he volunteered for various community events that the Sons of Italy was a part of, including Relay for Life, March of Dimes, Children’s Free Fishing Day at Ojibway Island, and Ralph helped raise money by having Spaghetti Dinner fundraisers for the Underground Railroad, Children’s Museum, the Carousel Horse at the Saginaw Children’s Zoo, just to name a few. Then, in 2010, Ralph was awarded the Sons of Italy Christopher Columbus Award and in 2017, he was presented with the Sons of Italy President’s Award for his many countless hours and years of volunteering in the Community. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, and growing several rose bushes over the years. And he loved to watch the Detroit Tigers Baseball games, Detroit Piston’s Basketball and yes, the Detroit Lions Football games, too. Of all the things Ralph loved in life, he LOVED his Family, and his Family was most important to him. He cherished his Grandkids and the times they would spend together. especially playing a serious game of Rummy or UNO. He loved to have his children and grandkids over for Spaghetti Dinner at Papa and Grammy’s house on Sunday. It didn’t have to be any specific day or reason, he just enjoyed having his Family together – creating lifetime memories, teaching his grandkids how to make meatballs, homemade spaghetti sauce and traditional holiday foods and desserts. In fact, Papa had plans with the Grandkids on Good Friday to make Easter Bread – “The Cousins” (Papa’s Grandkids) still plan to all be at his house on Good Friday to make the Easter Bread in Papa’s Kitchen! Ralph is survived by his loving children, Maria (Bob) Sian, Ralph Vescio, Jr. (partner, Marcia Pahr), Ann Vescio Baldwin, Chuck Vescio, and daughter-in-law, Becky Vescio; grandchildren, Olivia Sian, Bobby Sian (Cyrstyn Smith), Kaitlyn Vescio, Autumn Vescio, Nadia Baldwin, Nicky Baldwin, Austin Beck, and Zoie Clark; brother, Louie (Kay) Vescio; sisters and brother-in-law, Debbie (Vescio) Chinery and Debbie (Dave) Herzberg; many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Vescio; his parents, Vittorio and Gina Vescio; mother and father-in-law, Claude and Thelma Haas; brothers, Antonio Mario Vescio, Sr.; Luigi Mario Vescio, who passed away at birth, and sister, Maria Antoinette Vescio, who passed away as an infant. Visitation will take place Tuesday, March 28, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Vigil Service at 6:00 p.m. at Fischer Family Funeral Home, 504 N. Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48602. The vigil service will be led by Fr. Ron Wagner, Fr. Raj and Tori Little. Visitation will continue on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Helen Catholic Church Site of Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, 2445 N. Charles St., Saginaw, MI 48602. Rev. Fr. William Rutkowski will officiate the mass. Burial will follow at St. Andrew Catholic Cemetery, Saginaw. Memorials in honor of Ralph may be made to Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, care of the church, or to the Neurofibromatosis Network , Post Office Box 1530, Wheaton, IL 60187. For information, please call (989) 755-8277. To express your condolences, please visit www.fischerfuneral.com.

Ralph Vescio Sr.

September 3, 1942 - March 23, 2023