Anna M (Vazza) SantaCroce passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Friday June 30, 2017 at Rockville General Hospital.
Anna was born July 9, 1930 in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was predeceased by her parents Prospero and Maria Josphena Vazza.
She moved to Vernon in 1967 and managed the Interstate Motor Lodge and was later employed by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft until her retirement. Anna continued her education and proudly graduated from Manchester Community College.
As a member of St. Joseph’s Church Rockville, CT. she made many lifelong friends in the St. Helen's Society and the Rosary Society.
Throughout her life she maintained a kind and helpful heart and nurtured love and joy in her family and friends with her smile and great sense of humor. Her heart, love, strength and infectious laugh was a constant inspiration. She will long be remembered for her generosity, honesty and integrity as she connected to those whose lives she touched and her fierce spirit will forever live on in everyone's hearts.
While cutting coupons, and keeping up with everyone's lives, she regularly watched Yankees games. She had a great mind for history and trivia and won most of the categories on TV Jeopardy. Her favorite times were spent hosting holiday dinners for her family and keeping Italian traditions alive. She saw beauty everywhere and loved the birds at the feeder outside her window. She grew many herbs and plants and enjoyed listening to opera and big band music. She was an avid reader and discussed current events with everyone. She loved keeping mementos and had a story for every card and picture she kept in her care.
Anna is survived by her family, including her daughters, Johanna Linnersten and husband Staffan of Manchester, Diana SantaCroce of Manchester, Margaret Gordon and husband Kenneth of Rockville, Angela Noble of Sarasota FL, and Michael Santacroce and wife Jeanne of Manchester, CT; her loving sister, Jennie Taranto, of Queens NY; niece, Maria Elrose and husband Rick; great-niece, Jennifer Niznikiewicz and husband Mark; as well as great-niece, Melissa Kleinschmidt and husband Craig; grandchildren, Lia Burnham and husband Michael, Andrea Skowronek, Ryan Noble, Matthew Murray, Matt Santacroce and wife Julie, Emily Santacroce and fiancée Brandon Dixon, Rachel Santacroce; and great-grandchildren, Max and Olivia Burnham. We will all miss her so very much and will honor her memory.
The family is deeply grateful to the caring staff at Fox Hill Nursing Home, Manchester Wound Clinic and Rockville Hospital for the wonderful care provided, and Dr. Richard Orris and Dr. Li.
Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family on Monday July 3rd from 5 pm to 8 pm at Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect Street, Rockville, CT 06066. Burial will be private and a memorial mass will be given at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Fox Hill Recreation Department, 1253 Hartford Turnpike Rockville, CT. 06066. For online condolences please visit: www.pietrasfuneralhome.com
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