Anne C. (Martin) Vanaria

Waltham – Anne Vanaria loved lots of things and lots of people . . . chief among them were her kids and her grandkids . . . and the feeling was mutual.

So when she drew her last breath at her Waltham home on Friday, February 16, 2018 she knew at least three things . . . that she was loved and wanted and needed. Not a bad way to go two months shy of turning 92 and being able to stay at home throughout the ups and downs of old age.

And all the kids would agree that the staying at home part and the care that they all delivered was really a reflection of the genuine and selfless affection and devotion that their mother provided for them throughout their lives. Anne was really good at the most important job in the world . . . raising her children. Bob in particular made sure that Anne's days were filled with love, attention, and a really great meal.

Anne was also a movie buff . . . especially of Hollywood musicals and Christmas classics, a talented singer, an accomplished pianist . . . and even though not Italian by birth . . . made the best spaghetti sauce and meatballs anywhere. Her recipes always included dashes of spices and loads of love.

Holidays and birthdays, held at home with a small army of relatives, were always special occasions to celebrate her unwavering faith and her devotion to family.

Anne was born in Waltham on April, 25, 1926, a daughter of the late James and Anna (Ridgewell) Martin, and was a lifelong resident. On September 5, 1948 she married the love of her life, Waltham native Chrispian L. Vanaria, in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of Saint Charles Borromeo Church on Hall Street.

Chris had been an 'Iwo Jima' Marine just a couple of years earlier and when he got out of the service happily took a job as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service where he worked out of their Newtonville office for almost thirty years. Anne and Chris enjoyed forty-eight happy years together before his death on January 11, 1997.

She leaves her children, Lawrence A. Vanaria (Jackie) of Carver, Joan E. Venuto (Joseph) of Dedham, Patricia M. Withrow (Robert, Jr.) of Dedham, Robert C. Vanaria of Waltham, Richard J. Vanaria (Janet) of Lowell and Steven P. Vanaria (Rosemary) of Marlborough; her grandchildren, Jessica Riccio (John), Debra Vanaria, James Vanaria (Adrienne), Johnny Venuto (Erica Crossen), Eric Venuto (Kristen), Joseph Venuto (Leah), Robbie Withrow (Erin), Danny Withrow (Christina), Matthew Vanaria (Alicia), Allison Nawotny (Peter); her step-grandson, Justin McDonald (Jessica Ryder); her great-grandchildren, Ryan Venuto, Bernadette Withrow and Charlotte Venuto; her brother and sister, David Martin of Brockton and Elizabeth R. Cotoni of Leominster and many nieces and nephews.

Anne was also the grandmother of the late Jeffrey Venuto and sister of the late James Martin.

Family and friends will honor and remember Anne's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Tuesday, February 20th from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church, 311 River Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

And to quote from one of her favorites, A Christmas Carol . . . "A triumph, my dear, another triumph!" . . .