Michael James Rice
Affectionately known as BIG MIKE and BIG PAPPY, age 90, of Monroeville, formerly of Penn Hills, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 3, 2022. Son of the late James and Margaret (Cavanaugh) Rice; beloved husband of 40 years and widowed for 28 years of the late Marie (Reutter) Rice; loving father of Keith (Wendy) Stack, Michele (Dean) Hoover, JB (Karen McGee) Rice, Denis (Sharon) Rice, Joe (Pam) Rousso, and the late Richard Stack; proud grandfather of Justin Stack, Jennifer (Eric) Tusick, Michael Dean (Jenny-Lee) Hoover, Jessica (Michael Lawthers) Hoover, Jarrett Rice, Jennah (Nathan) Barthlow, Juliana (Omar Aboukelila) Rice, Tiffany (Angel) Rice-Perez, Denis (Tara) Rice, Shauna (Gino) Rometo, and Joe, Jr. (Alissa Adams) Rousso; great-grandfather of Logan and Zoey Stack, Luke Ropon, Anthony Tusick, Michelina, Nevaeh, Khloe, Dean, and Sophia Hoover, Jayda Lawthers, Gianina Barthlow, Emilia and Zachary Rice, Avianna and Giavanna Rometo; great-great-grandfather of Anilah Ropon; brother of the late Jane (Ed) Henry, Helen (Earl) Kible, and Margaret (Bob) Hollinger; also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Mike was the steward of the BSNI club in East Liberty for 12 years and was a senior computer analyst for 44 years on the P&LE Railroad. Dad had an infectious laugh and was a kind and thoughtful family man. Mike was an avid Pirates and Steelers fan. One of our families loving memories is getting a singing telegram from dad (pappy) on your birthday. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and all their accomplishments in life. Our family would like to give a special thank you to Tricia Schneider, dad’s caretaker and dear friend. She brought Big Mike joy and love, and he was never alone especially in the last several weeks. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
Friends will be received at William F. Gross Funeral Home, LTD., 11735 Frankstown Rd. (at Rodi Rd.) Penn Hills, on Friday, September 9, 2022 from 2-7 p.m. Funeral Prayers will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 9:20 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish, St. Bernadette Church, 245 Azalea Dr., Monroeville, PA 15146 at 10 a.m.