Anna L. (Vanaria) Anderson

Anna L. (Vanaria) Anderson, of Waltham, died January 17, 2025 in Newton-Wellesley Hospital after a period of declining health. She was 97. 

Anna was born on May 1, 1927 in Waltham, a daughter of the late Italian immigrants, Anthony and Lucia (Alfino) Vanaria. Raised in Waltham, she was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School. 

While working at Raytheon, Anna met her husband, Richard C. Anderson and married on May 6, 1950, in St. Mary’s Church, Waltham. Anna and Richard raised their four children in Waltham and their family has grown to include twelve grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Richard died on June 22, 2012. 

Anna worked as a hairdresser before taking time off to raise her family. She later returned to the workforce as an operator at the Waltham Telephone Answering Service but, the role she cherished most was that of mother, grandmother and great-grandmother (Great Gigi). Anna was blessed to have been an active part of her great-grandchildren’s lives right up until her passing, and they are blessed to carry those memories spent with her throughout their lives.

Every Sunday, her home was the place to gather and share multi course dinners. She loved a house filled with family and friends, simply to talk, laugh and eat, in particular her signature lasagna. 

Anna loved to knit and crochet and her beautiful afghans won first place every year at the Barnstable Fair on Cape Cod. One year, winning Best in Show, she had the honor or having her name engraved on the silver bowl. 

Anna’s loving and compassionate personality touched everyone she met, whether at work in her earlier years, on the deck of the clubhouse at her condo in Falmouth, and most recently, in her community at Elizabeth Seton Residence. She continued to make dear friends until her passing. This past Christmas, Anna celebrated her sister Mary’s 100th birthday with her. Mary Roughsedge died December 30, 2024, just 18 days before Anna. 

In addition to her beloved husband, Richard, she is predeceased by her siblings, Mary Roughsedge, Evelyn Sushinsky, Dr. Anthony Vanaria, Chrispian, Felix, Alfred, Francis, Joseph and Leonard Vanaria, Rose Fiorelli and Antoinette Connelly. Sons-in-law: Randall D Jacobs and David M Bentley, Sr.

She leaves her children, Richard C. Anderson II (Deborah) of Billerica, Cheryl J. Bentley and Mary Jane Jacobs, both of Falmouth, and Ann Marie Robichaud of Billerica; her grandchildren, Richard Anderson III (Courtney), David Bentley, Jr (Melissa), Sheila Barter (Alan), Julie Bentley, Christie Lucente (Donald), Randall Jacobs, Jeanne Philcox (Daniel), Andrea Jacobs, Keri Harbor (Rob), Elizabeth Glynn, Anna Ferrari (Gino) and Laura Robichaud; her great-grandchildren, Alyson, Madeline, Thomas, Benjamin, Olivia, Wyatt, Matteo, Austin, Nicolas, Macy, Tyler, Wesley, Melanie, Riley Jo, Jade, Shay, Gino IV, Tommy and Colbie Jean; sister-in-law Lillian Vanaria of Pepperell; and many nieces, nephews and their families. 

Family and friends will honor and remember Anna's life by gathering for an Afternoon Wake at The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham, on Sunday, January 26, 2025 from 2 to 5 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Mary’s Church, 133 School Street, Waltham where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery, Waltham.