GIZELDA 'JIMMY' CETTO, 92, a resident of State Road, Richmond, for more
than 65 years, died Thursday evening at Berkshire Medical Center. Born in Altissimo, Italy, a daughter of Sebastian and Amilia Mettifogo Balestro,her family came to the United States and settled in Richmond in 1916, where she
attended schools, until circumstances forced her to abandon school to help run the
family gas station. Mrs. Cetto had been employed as an assembler for Schaeffer-Eaton paper
company for 16 years retiring in June 30, 1982.
She loved cooking and baking, especially Christmas sugar cookies. Her greatest
love was for her family and friends, doting on her grandchildren.
Her husband, George Cetto, whom she married July 3, 1938, died November 15,
1969.Mrs. Cetto is survived by a daughter, Barbara A. DaFonte of Pittsfield, two grand-
children, and two great grandsons.

FUNERAL NOTICE: A Liturgy of Christian Burial for GIZELDA 'JIMMY' CETTO, who died
Thursday, October 26, will be Monday, October 30, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Patrick Church,
West Stockbridge, celebrated by Rev. Christopher J. Waitekus, Pastor. Burial will follow
in St. Patrick's Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing
to do so may make memorial donations to Elder Services of Berkshire County or to Lee
Regional Visiting Nurse Association both in care of DERY FUNERAL HOME, 54 Bradford Street, Pittsfield. The daughter of a close, loving family, Gizelda "Jimmy" Cetto was born in 1913
in Altissimo, Italy. Her parents, Amelia and Sebastian, brought Jimmy and her brothers
to Richmond, Massachusetts, in 1916. Jimmy's heart and soul were deeply invested in
her family�she was always looking out for them. When circumstances forced her to
drop out of school in the eighth grade to help run the family gas station, Jimmy declared,
with her signature good cheer, "I don't mind at all�what can you do�someone had to
do it." Later, Jimmy went on to a job at Schaeffer Eaton's where the highlight of her
working days was her close friendship with her coworkers with whom she carpooled to
work daily. Jimmy married her true love, George, in 1938. They had one child, her
treasured daughter, Barbara, her everything.
Jimmy lived for family and friends, and doted on her grandchildren, Tom and
Tina. In the early 1970s, Tom and Tina would visit her every weekend. Jimmy would
pick them up Friday in her big green Delmont 88 and would take them to the Big N for
toys and to the Checkerboard for dinner. Those weekends held a special place in the
hearts of all three. In the winter of 1991 and the summer of 1994, Jimmy's two precious great
grandchildren were born. Never did a day go by that she did not ask for Zack and Jake.
Throughout her life, Jimmy loved cooking. At her house everyone was always
made welcome. She'd always ask, "You want a cup of coffee?" to all who walked
through her door. Each Christmas she baked batches of her famous Christmas tree and
Santa shaped sugar cookies with green and red sprinkles. Everyone hovered in the
kitchen with anticipation and ate them hot, right out of the oven. She loved to laugh, say her rosaries, and she loved to swear, sometimes in
Italian. Mrs. Cetto also leaves her son-in-law, Thomas, her granddaughter, Kate
DaFonte, and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her three brothers,
Joseph, Angelo, and Bruno.

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