Anita L. Angelacci

Anita L. Angelacci passed away on April 2, 2013 at the age of 90. Anita was born in Newark, New Jersey, and was the daughter of Vincenzo and Clara Longo. Her husband, Frank, an executive with the Gulf Oil Corporation, predeceased her. Anita is survived by her children: Col. Andrew( ret.) (Bonnie) of Raleigh, NC, Anita Angelacci-Bougher (George) of Cordova, TN, Linda A. Soresi (Carl) of Vero Beach, FL., and Frank (Leslie) of Pleasant Hill, CA., and her grandchildren Franklin and Josh Bougher, Andie Angelacci and Guyar Vial.

Anita’s strong sense of independence started at a young age when she worked all through high school. She received her Associate’s Degree from Essex Junior College and went to work for Atlantic Refining Co. After her husband’s sudden death from aplastic anemia while they were living in Rome, Italy, Anita began work in Rome as an English broadcaster for Vatican Radio. When she returned to the United States with her four young children, she began a 25 year career with Gulf Oil, initially in Pittsburgh, PA and subsequently in Houston, TX when Gulf was acquired by Chevron.

Upon retiring from Gulf Oil, Anita dedicated herself to two of her favorite passions, the Opera and the Church. She spent her time doing volunteer work for the Houston Grand Opera and for the Catholic Diocese in Houston, as a lector and as a manager for the Opera Guild Shop.

Anita moved to Memphis in 2006, and has been a devoted grandmother to her two grandsons, Franklin and Josh and was one of their biggest fans at the Christian Brothers High School basketball games. Funeral Mass will be at 10:15 a.m., Monday, April 8 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, with a short visitation time beginning at 9:30. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to Memphis Botanic Gardens at 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis, TN 38117