Raymond Nazzario

Raymond C. Nazzario died Thursday, April 13th, at home following a battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held 1pm Tuesday April 18, 2017 at Pecan Grove Funeral Home, 3124 Robinson Dr. Waco, with Father Joe Gelaney as celebrant. The family will receive visitors 5-7pm Mon. April 17 at the funeral home.
Buddy, as he was affectionately known by his mother and siblings, and Pop by his grandchildren, was born on November 3, 1936 in Philadelphia, PA to Patrick and Beatrice Nazzario.
Throughout his life, he held many job titles including Sales Rep in the welding and industrial gas supplies industry, in Long Island, NY and Houston, TX; Craps dealer in Atlantic City, NJ; and Cashier at Walmart in Hewitt, TX.
Raymond enjoyed a wide range and eclectic mix of interests. Favorite movies included Airplane!, Citizen Kane, and Casablanca. “Surely, you can’t be serious! I am serious and don’t call me Shirley” from Airplane! and “What nationality are you? I’m a drunkard” from Casablanca were two of his favorite lines. He could be found listening to a wide variety of music from Classical to Opera to Big Band Swing. Other interests included exceptional food, fine wine, and good martinis. He would make sure anyone entering his house had either food, drink, or both. He enjoyed entertaining others. He loved discussing politics, economics, and current events. Raymond could discuss any topic and his knowledge of history, science, politics was unrivalled.
He loved to play games. He greatly enjoyed solitaire but also played games with his sons when they were younger. These games included war simulation games where the maps would occupy an entire room and play would take 200-300 hours to complete one game from beginning to end.
He enjoyed spending hours setting up his collection of Christmas in the City houses with his family during the holiday season.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Joan Ward Nazzario and his twin sister, Beatrice Nazzario Cannon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 1 ½ years, Rhonda Hoff Nazzario; His sons, Raymond and his wife Vicki Nazzario, and Patrick and his wife Jessica Nazzario; His stepsons Chris and his wife Angela Hoff, Michael Hoff, and Josh and his wife Rachel Hoff; Grandchildren Katie, David, Juli, Laura, Taylor, Scott, James, Cayson, Christine, and Zoey; Sisters Judy Nazzario and Barbara Nazzario Buckley.