Anna Marie Hight

Anna was born in Portland on June 1, 1932, the daughter of Goachino (Jack) and Marietta DiPietrantonio. She and her five sisters grew up in Portland’s Munjoy Hill neighborhood and were raised with strong values, moral character and the importance of family.

Anna attended Portland schools and graduated from Portland High School in 1950. She was an excellent student whose favorite subject was English grammar and writing. After graduating high school, Anna joined the workforce with J.J.Nissen’s Bakery where she met the man who would later become her husband and the love of her life; Harold ‘Buddy’ Hight. Anna and Buddy were married on September 24, 1955 at St. Peter’s church in Portland.

In the following year, on July 24, 1956, Anna and Buddy welcomed their first child and over the next nine years would have five more children. Given Anna’s strong Italian heritage, it would come as no surprise that her children would be brought up in a classic Italian home. Anna was an exceptional cook and was best known for her Italian dishes that were second to none, including her own homemade tomato sauce, meatballs, pasta, Italian bread, and Italian cookies. Although pasta was a favorite and a weekly staple for the family, she could cook anything and nobody made a better beef stew with biscuits.

Anna and her sisters were very close as children and remained that way throughout their adult lives. It was the strong bond and love of family they shared that was the impetus for what would become a large and extremely close extended family. Anna and her family along with her sister’s families shared many wonderful times together and would see each other on a regular basis. However, it was the annual family reunion on the 4th of July that was a favorite time for all, enjoying each other’s company, playing games, swimming, fishing, and of course lots of great food!

In May of 1973, tragedy struck the Hight family when Buddy unexpectedly passed away after suffering a fatal heart attack at the age of 43. This was a devastating blow to the family and an especially difficult time for Anna, who at the young age of 40, became a widow with six children. With a broken heart and incredible courage, she picked herself up and went back to work full-time as she was determined to give her children a good life. She arranged to work a shift at Nissen’s that would allow her to be home when her children got home from school and ensured that she and her children had meals together every day. Anna sacrificed her whole life for her family, always focusing on their needs and not her own. Anna certainly deserves “Life’s gold medal”.

As the years went by, Anna’s family grew with the addition of her children’s spouses and was blessed with many grandchildren. She loved them all very much and her face would light up whenever she saw them.

Anna retired after a long career from J.J.Nissen’s Bakery in 1994. During her time there, she was admired and respected by her coworkers and forged lifelong friendships with many of them.

During her post retirement years, Anna took an interest in creating special occasion cards for family and friends. This would include cards for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, holidays, and any other occasion that arose. This became more than just a hobby for her, but a real passion as it was so rewarding to see the joy it would bring to those who received them. It is estimated that she created thousands of handmade cards over a period of 25+ years and actually made her last three cards the night before she passed.

Anna also enjoyed walking and right up until recent years could be seen walking around Baxter Boulevard in Portland with her sister, Priscilla, on a daily basis. This was such a big part of their lives that a bench was placed on the walking path with a plaque dedicated to “The Walking Dipietro sisters”.

Anna was known for her wonderful personality, strong work ethic, strength of character, sense of humor, and most of all for being an incredible mother to her children. These qualities along with her independent nature, courage, and love of family set the example for her children and a legacy that will help to guide them throughout their lives.

Anna was predeceased by her husband Harold (Buddy) Hight, four sisters Doris Capozza, Josephine Addario, Eleanor Hanka, and Priscilla Walsh; brothers-in-law Joseph Addario, John J. Walsh, Kont Hanka, Joseph Capozza, Arthur Hight, Robert Hight: sisters-in-law Helen Corradini and Barbara Johnston.

She is survived by her sister Phyllis Mancini and her husband Anthony; six children Kevin Hight and his wife Susan, Karen Hight, Jeffrey Hight and his wife Sue, Vicki Inman and her husband Kevin, Kimberly Gregorio, and Michael Hight; Twelve grandchildren Kevin Hight Jr., Jason Hight, Kandace Eon, Joey Hubner, Julie Hubner, Geoffrey Hight, Nicholas Hight, Matthew Hight, Amanda (Inman) Jones, Brooke (Inman) Reed, Kristen Gregorio, Tia Gregorio; eleven great grandchildren; brother-in-law Michael Hight and his wife Connie, sisters-in-law Marilyn Hight and Maxine Hight and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude for the exceptional and compassionate care by the staff at Northern Light Mercy Hospital, New England Rehab, Northern Light Hospice, and the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

Relatives & friends are invited for a time of visitation for Anna on Monday, June 19, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Jones, Rich & Barnes Funeral Home, 199 Woodford St. Prayers will be recited at 9:00 AM Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at the funeral home to be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10AM at St Peter's Roman Catholic Church, 72 Federal St. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, So. Portland.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.jonesrichandbarnes.com for the Hight family.