Anne Marie DePalma

Anne Marie DePalma (Farwell) has passed away into the arms of our Heavenly Father on April 17, 2025. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Vincent B. DePalma Jr (2023), and survived by her four children, Lisa Shirley (Robert), Anthony (Tony) DePalma (Deanna), Peter (Pete) DePalma (Jackie), and Christine Ford Morales (Robert). She is also survived and beloved by eleven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

Anne Marie was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 28, 1939, to Herbert John Farwell and Marcella Lilian Farwell (Hilgart). She moved to Glendale, California with her mother and father in 1953 when she was 14. Anne Marie’s father Herb was ill with cancer when they moved to California, and her mother Marcella worked at Sears in Glendale, and several other jobs thereafter to support the family. Herb passed away in 1959 when Anne Marie was 20 years old.

Anne Marie attended Holy Family High School and graduated in 1957. As an only child, Anne Marie grew especially close to a group of girlfriends from her high school years who became as close as sisters. The group of four women would be close until their deaths, and the children of Sharon, Rosalie, and Judy became like cousins to the DePalma children. She was also working at the Glendale library, where she would meet a young man named Vince, who also worked there, shuttling books from one library to another.

In January 1961, Vince and Anne Marie would marry and make their home in Westchester CA, and welcome their first child, Lisa Marie. As the first grandchild to both sides of the family, Lisa and her later siblings were much adored by their grandparents. And as Vince and Anne Marie were both “only” children in their families, they would be sure to instill FAMILY as the highest value with their own children. They longed for a big family and later added three more children to their family: Anthony Joseph, Peter Joseph, and Christine Marie. Anne Marie would be a doting wife and fun-loving mother to her children for many years. The family would later live in Diamond Bar, Canyon Lake, and Vince and Anne Marie would retire to Menifee, CA, where both would live out their final years.

In 1975, Anne Marie would turn her love of plants into a business of designing, installing, and maintaining indoor plants, and The Greenery was born. She would be lovingly referred to as, “The Plant Lady”. She would continue this joy of hers until 2019, when she could physically do it no more.

Anne Marie’s greatest love and joy was having her family and friends around and a big PARTY! She loved to have a noisy, lively gathering, and entertaining. As a family, the adventurous couple was often on trips, including camping and many river trips; and Anne Marie was a supportive and eager partner when Vince decided to race vintage cars in his retirement. She also loved to travel the country, visiting friends, and her cousin Kathleen, who was like a sister to her.

Anne Marie was surrounded by her four loving children, her daughters- and sons-in law, grandchildren, and great-children during the days and hours leading up to her death. She was lucky to have often visits, even by the youngest children and babies with their sweet, cheery faces. She will be remembered for her sweet, fun-loving personality, love of her family, and love of our Lord and Savior.