Anna Maria Perrotta

Anna Maria Alba Perrotta passed away peacefully on November 24, 2022, at her long-time home in Lanham, Md., surrounded by her loving family. She was born on July 20, 1924, in Revere, Mass. She is predeceased by her husband, Gino Perrotta, of Boston, Mass., whom she married in 1952, her parents, Vincenzo (James) Alba and Accursia (Lucy) Santangelo Alba, long-time residents of Cummings Ave., Revere, along with siblings Anthony, Marie (Canty), Mary, and Lillian, all of Revere.

Anna, a loving and devoted mother, leaves behind six children: Maria, Regina, John, Susan, Vincent, and Stephen, along with sons- and daughters-in-law Paul Feucht, Sara Foresi Perrotta, Kevin Clauss, and Laura Whitney Perrotta, plus 15 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren.

Anna was often nostalgic as she recounted stories from her youth. Her father and his two brothers from Sciacca, Sicily were among the great wave of Italian immigrants to the U.S. beginning in the late 1800s. They worked in trade jobs in and around Boston, saving money to buy three adjoining parcels in the oceanside town of Revere. Instead of building three separate houses, the brothers constructed a large, three-story home on the middle lot. This left plenty of room for gardening and playing with the dozens of cousins who lived nearby. As a finishing touch, local artists painted the interior walls in faux marble, murals or with scenes from Italy. Anna would lovingly recall her ninety-something year-old grandmother, who lived with them on the third floor, surrounded by music, food, family, and love. The family so impressed a young Richard Hagopian, whose family lived next door, that decades later he memorialized the family and the home in his autobiographical novel, Faraway The Spring.

Anna graduated from Revere High School in 1942, and Fisher College in Boston in 1944. Then, prior to marriage, she worked in Boston for several years as an administrative assistant for Pitney-Bowes Co.

During her married life, Anna moved often with her children and husband, a civil engineer with the U.S. Government. In 1966 they made their final move to Lanham, Md., where Anna lived for the next 56 years. She and Gino enjoyed entertaining neighbors and family with delicious Italian dinners. When Gino suddenly passed away in January 1972, Anna continued to raise their children, her primary focus, seeing all through college. Anna continued the many parties with neighbors, friends and family - celebrating milestones, holidays and “just because” dinners. Often her children’s friends would stop by and enjoy watching her cook a special meal just for them, praising her with chants of “Angel, we love you!”. In later years Anna passed on her favorite Italian recipes to the next generation of family cooks- her grandchildren, who loved to come for cooking lessons and assist in special food preparations.

As her own children grew older, Anna had more time to pursue her passions of calligraphy in the writing of letters, poems, and prose. She also continued her prolific craft of rug braiding, making over one hundred braided rugs and chair pads.

Anna will always be remembered for her quick-witted humor and sincere generosity.

We love you more!

Visitation will be held at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home and Cemetery, 3401 Bladensburg Road, Brentwood, Md. on Sunday, December 11, 2022 from 9:00 am to 11:00 am with a memorial service and interment immediately following.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation, 90 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, Md. 21122.