Annette Marie Sorrentino

Annette Marie Sorrentino. 74. of Glen Allen. VA (Hanover County), died on Friday, February 9, 2024. Born in Queens, NY, on September 20, 1949, she lived in upstate New York for many years prior to relocating to Central Virginia in 1992. The Sorrentinos resided in Mechanicsville, VA, for 23 years, until moving to a Glen Allen community.

Annette was an ambitious, driven employee who excelled in the insurance industry. She studied for five years to obtain her Certified Property & Casualty Underwriter credentials in 1994, spending the next 21 years working in underwriting and achieving the position of Executive Underwriter. Annette earned numerous service awards, commendations, and recognition for her outstanding work and leadership with Markel. While Annette's work in underwriting was very important to her, the single most important job was mom to Juliette and Jack. Annette was a dedicated mother, at times working two jobs as a single parent, to provide for her children. In 1996, she met, and in 1997, married the love of her life, a fellow New Yorker and Italian American, Phillip Sorrentino. Annette and Phil traveled to numerous places; one of the first was to Italy.

Annette was a very active person who enjoyed her friends and neighbors. She loved to garden, working in her flower beds around the house as well as in the community's garden. She got her daily exercise by riding her bike in the neighborhood, walking the neighborhood with Phil or neighbors, talking the entire time! Annette and Phil went hiking together in Virginia State Parks, enjoying the beauty of mother nature and then a lunch out before heading home. She also participated in water aerobics, Silver Sneakers workouts, and yoga. Annette loved to read novels, watch romantic comedy movies. and watch stories in which the individual overcame challenges. Annette liked to dance and listen to music. Finally, Annette was a GREAT cook! She made an outstanding lasagna, and anyone who was fortunate enough to be invited to dinner was always in for a delicious meal.

Annette also actively participated in a number of organizations: the Chickahominy Falls Social Committee, the community women's monthly luncheon (which she never missed). Silver Sneakers Aerobics, Sons of Italy, and the Old Dominion Appalachian Trail Club. She also found time to volunteer for the local food bank, Feed More, and she worked in the Chickahominy Falls Fann Garden once a week during the growing season. Between her interests and organizational participation, keeping up with Annette was a challenge! She will be deeply missed by her family and many friends.

Annette is survived by her husband, Phillip A. Sorrentino; her daughter, Juliette Sheppard of Arlington, VA; her son, Jack Sheppard of Mechanicsville, VA; and her siblings, Al Ratner, sister-in-law, Susan, of New Jersey; Art Ratner, sister-in-law, Marty, of California; and twin sister, Ann Ratner of New York. Annette was predeceased by her parents, Albert Ratner and Annette Ponzio Ratner of Queens, New York.

The memorial service will be held at Nelsen's Funeral Home, Ashland, VA, on Saturday, March 9, 2024, with visitation from 10:00-11 :00 a.m., memorial service from 11 :00 a.m. - noon, and a light reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Annette's memory to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, www.stjude.org; Doctors without Borders, www.doctorswithoutborders.org ; or Feed More. www.feedmore.org.

If you were unable to attend the services locally, please see the funeral service that was livestreamed at:

https://mvfuneral.s3.amazonaws.com/Funeral_Sorrentino_Annette.mp4