Jane S. Fabrizi

Jane Shepardson Fabrizi, age 93, of Elkton, MD, passed away at her residence on Sunday, February 1, 2015. Born in Pittsfield, MA, on April 6, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Robert S. and Margaret Mispel Shepardson.

During War World II, Mrs. Fabrizi worked at the defense plant in Chestertown, MD, and at the fireworks manufacturing plant owned by her late husband, Tony. She enjoyed painting, vegetable and flower gardening, canning, baking, reading, traveling, singing, and playing slot machines. Mrs. Fabrizi loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed observing the stock market and watching tennis.

Our mother was what one would call a "one of a kind" in every sense of the word. She came into this world in 1921 poor as a church mouse, the middle child of 11 fun-filled loving sisters and brothers, and a mother with more than enough love to pass around to every one of them. She was born blessed to keep for 93 years, beauty, personality, great hair, curiosity, luck, a million-dollar smile and perfect teeth to go with it! And she knew how to use it all! She loved people and they loved her.

Every single minute of her life, up until the last three days, she loved life with an unquenchable zest that one would think only came out of a character in a story book. But that was Jane Fabrizi, and there was never a dull moment, ever, anywhere near her! Her great-grandson, Caleb, summed her up one day when he said, "Great-Mom-Mom, you're really impressive."

She showed everyone who had the good fortune to know her, how to appreciate everything life has to offer. Throughout all the sad times and happy times, her cup was never half empty, but always half full.

Last but not least, every weekend during the 1950's and 1960's, she would take Pete and Kathy, and anyone else who cared to go along, to Rock Hall to go crabbing using our dip nets and crab baskets with her sisters and nieces and nephews. When we finished crabbing, we would search for arrowheads in the area farm fields. It was tons of fun for everyone!

God blessed us by giving her to us all as mom, mother-in-law, mom-mom and granny, great-mom-mom, sister, aunt and friend.

Our mother truly had a love affair with life and with the world.

Survivors include her daughters, Jane F. Bristow and husband, Jim, Elkton, MD, and Kathy Fabrizi and husband, Michael Veneziani, Chesapeake City, MD; grandchildren, Tony Grablis, Janie Fanucci, Teddy Grablis and wife, Melinda, all of Elkton, MD, and Pete Unger and wife, Rebekah, Kalispell, MT; great-grandchildren, Nicki Javorski, Gina Fanucci, Catherine, Anthony, Teddy, Caroline, and Kylee Grablis, and Caleb, Machaela, and Abigail Unger; siblings, Gladys Beck, Cecilton, MD, Sonny Bastow, Pittsfield, MA, Oyma Elbourn, Rock Hall, MD, Skippy Bastow, Lee, MA, and June Reid, Chesapeake City, MD; and many, many loved nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Fabrizi was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Tony Fabrizi; son, Peter Fabrizi; and siblings, Bob, Ken, and Hugh Shepardson, Lorrain McCreedie and Grace Harrison.

Visitation will be held at the residence from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., Thursday, February 5, 2015. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, in care of Hicks Home for Funerals, 103 W. Stockton St., Elkton, MD 21921.