DIROCCO, Ralph Joseph

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ March 11, 2011 Ralph Joseph DiRocco, 88, died Thursday, March 3, 2011, at his home in Snowflake. Ralph was born Feb. 24, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio to parents Nicholas and Lucy DiRocco. He was proud of his Italian heritage. Ralph married Carol Ann Mahaffey in Phoenix and they have been married for the past 43 years. They moved from Phoenix to Snowflake and have lived there for 20-plus years. Ralph served as a tech sergeant in the US Army during WWII, from 1942-1945. Ralph was a wonderful musician and played the clarinet, tenor saxophone, keyboard and all types of jazz and Big Band music. He also was a painter and sculptor. Ralph leaves his wife, Carol DiRocco, of Snowflake; son Randy (Christine) DiRocco of Phoenix; son Patrick Landers of Show Low; daughter Gail DiRocco of Flagstaff; daughter Lezli Tatroe of Phoenix; four grandchildren, one great-grandchild and his sister Lilian DeFranco of Sun City. Ralph was preceded in death by one sister and one brother. A memorial mass will be held in his honor at 10 a.m. Monday, March 14, at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Snowflake. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Hospice Compassus, 1789 W. Commerce Dr., Lakeside, AZ 85929. To leave an online thought of Ralph or send condolences to the family, visit website: www.silvercreekmortuary.net. Arrangements were handled by Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor.