Mary "Angie" Hughes

Mary “Angie” Hughes, passed away peacefully in Virginia Beach, Virginia on Monday, April 19, 2021 at the age of 102 years young. Angie is preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Mary Festa; husband of 60 years, Robert Hughes, Sr. Left to cherish her memory is her son, Robert “Bob” Hughes, Jr. She was the last of ten brothers and sisters (Grace, Marie, Margaret, Theresa, Virginia, Danny, Ralph, Andrew and Tony) who maintained close family ties throughout the years, and many extended family and friends. Angie was born in Portsmouth, Virginia in 1918 to the late Antonio and Mary (Brescia) Festa. Angie was born during the great Spanish flu pandemic (and left us during the Covid-19 pandemic). She was raised with her brothers and sisters in an apartment above her Italian immigrant father’s shoe maker shop on Middle Street in Portsmouth. She worked as a young girl during the Great Depression and gave her paycheck to the family to help-out. She met her husband, Bob, Sr., who had joined the Navy just at the outbreak of World War II. She was a Navy wife for 25 years setting up home in duty stations across the country. During this time, she earned her real estate license, all while being a devoted full-time wife and mother. When the family retired in 1958 to Virginia Beach she became a highly successful real estate broker. Friends in the business said she sold more than half of Virginia Beach! The many people she represented in real estate became friends for life. Angie was a founding plank member of the Catholic Church of the Ascension. She had a great love for the Church and her fellow parishioners. She was active in ministry well into her 90s, serving in the funeral ministry, and was among the leaders of Ascension’s charismatic prayer group as well as a member of De Colores. She was a proud Italian-American and an active member of the Roma Italian Lodge in Virginia Beach and the Italo American Lodge in Portsmouth, of which her father was a founding member. She served both lodges in numerous offices. After 60 years of service, Roma Lodge awarded her the high honor of a lifetime membership in the Order Sons of Italy. She loved family get-togethers, parties, music, singing and dancing. If music was playing Angie was dancing. If she wasn’t dancing she was playing the piano. If she wasn't playing the piano she was singing. She was often the life of the party and never met a stranger she didn’t make into a friend. Because she loved singing, and while still well into her 90s, she joined the Beach Tones of Virginia Beach who sang to residents in assisted living facilities and nursing homes throughout the area to people younger than her. She sang right up until the time she went into assisted living herself and sang there. Angie loved to travel, especially on ocean cruises and toured her beloved Italy, the Vatican and other European countries with her husband, family and friends. She took a cruise to Bermuda with her son and was planning cruises while still in assisted living. Finally, there was nothing more important in her life than her family; grandchildren, John and Lindsay; great-grandchildren, Aiden, Sidney, Isaiah, Alexia, Maddox; daughter-in-law, Carol; step-grandchildren, Ashley and Cory, Brandon and Elvia, their twin daughters; all her cherished nieces and nephews, especially Susan who took loving care of her aunt, Denise and Glenn who drove great miles just to visit with her, Sandy and Harold who invited her for picnics and holiday gatherings with her beloved sister Theresa; indeed her entire family and her many beloved friends too numerous to count. She had a special love for Russ Cerro and his wife, Gladys. Russ was like a son to her in his untiring care and devotion. She cherished every moment she was with them all. We will cherish every moment we had with her. She lived life on this earth to the fullest and leaves all of us gifts; the gifts of memories we all share of a long life filled with love, joy and laughter; a life well lived and well done. But Angie’s life has not ended, it continues in Heaven where she has heard the words from the Lord she loves tell her face to face “well done good and faithful servant.” Until we meet again. There will be a visitation on Thursday, April 29, 2021 from 4-8 pm at Smith and Williams Funeral Home 4889 Princess Anne Rd., VA Beach, VA 23462. A funeral mass will be at Church of the Ascension at 4853 Princess Anne Rd., VA Beach, VA 23462 on Friday, April 30, 2021 at 1:00 pm. The mass can also be viewed via the Church of the Ascension link at ascensionvb.org. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens at 6309 E. VA Beach Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23502. Please visit www.SmithAndWilliamsKempsville.com to leave a message of condolence for the family.