She was born in Naples, Italy on April 7th, 1931. Ada is predeceased by her loving husband Robert L. Anderson who she met in Naples while he was stationed there with the US Navy. Ada was the daughter of Carabinieri Police Commissioner Luigi Neglia and Concetta Neglia. She is also predeceased by her brothers Ugo Neglia, Carabinieri Capt. Renato Neglia , her sisters Linda Larkin and Olga Rosbey and her in-laws Jean and Boyd Relyea and Doris and David Wiltrout. She is also predeceased by her youngest son Norfolk Police Officer Bruce A. Anderson.
Ada was a member of Saint Pius X Catholic church. She was a devoted wife and mother always putting her family first. She told a story of her time in Naples during WWII, where she remembered standing in long lines each day with her mother and sisters for their ration of bread. She had a vivid memory of after receiving their bread, which was the size of a biscuit, telling her mother she was so hungry. Her mother took her ration and broke it up and gave it to her and her sisters. She shared that mother’s love with her sons, always putting their needs before her own. Ada worked at Regino’s Italian Restaurant for 22 years helping to support her family. When her husband retired from the Navy, they opened a little woodworking business, the Norwegian Woodworker, and had a shop at the Little Creek Navy Base Exchange for many years. Upon her husband’s passing, she closed up the shop and went to work as a hostess at the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant just to keep busy and meet people.
Ada loved walking through the Norfolk Botanical Gardens where she was a member. The family home was close to the gardens and she and her boys went there often. She also loved the beach and most summers spent every day there with her boys. Her home was always open to family and friends. All of her sons friends knew the Anderson house was the place to hang out.
Ada is survived by her children, Steve (Chris), Don, Wayne (Beth) and daughter in law Claudia(Bruce). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Steven (Hanna), Emma (Ricky), Eryn, Cameron(Matt) and Chandler (Brooke), Avery and great grandchildren Finn and Mallory.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 3, 2019 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, 601 N. Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, VA.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 4, 2019, 10:30a.m. at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 712 Little Neck Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452.
Interment will follow at Hampton National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests, a charitable donation to Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad 3769 E Stratford Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23455 or the Virginia Beach SPCA (vbspca.com/donate)
