Anna C. Holten

Born July 29, 1930 in White Plains, New York to the late Domenico and Josephine (Bianco) Pezzella, Anna was a lifelong resident of Eastchester, NY. Following her graduation from Eastchester High School in 1948, she worked at the New York Telephone Company operating the switchboards.

On June 10, 1951, she married the love of her life Larry Holten (predeceased on June 11, 2017) at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scarsdale. They cherished each other for 66 years of marriage, and raised two daughters and a son.

A devout Catholic, Anna was a lifelong parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, and recited her rosary daily. A fixture in the church, you could be sure to find her seated with her family in the first row of the church at 5:30 p.m. Saturday Mass.

In addition to her faith, Anna was a proud 65-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 979 in Eastchester. An extraordinary cook and baker, she was known for her family’s gravy and “tadals” cookies. Her home was the place to be for holidays and parties.

Anna loved her Danielle Steel novels and never missed a new edition. She enjoyed her soaps, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, as well as Wheel of Fortune every night at 7:30 p.m. Hazel, The Golden Girls and Everybody Loves Raymond provided a lifetime of laughs. Ever put together, she had standing weekly appointments to keep her nails and hair just right for when she accompanied her family to many of the area’s fine restaurants.

Her greatest enjoyment, though, was spending time with her family. Going to all her childrens', then grandchildrens’, and finally great-grandson’s activities gave her so much happiness.

As Anna’s children grew, she went back to work. First at Lord & Taylor in Eastchester where she worked for several years as their office manager, followed by some time at General Foods in Rye Brook.

Anna is survived by her treasured children, daughter Susan Holten, daughter Barbara and son-in-law Trip Gagnon, and daughter-in-law Beth Holten (beloved son Larry Holten, Jr. predeceased on July 2, 2000), as well as her devoted sister Muffy Carlucci-Conway. She was the greatest Grandma to her granddaughter Kelly and her husband John Nargi, granddaughter Courtney Gagnon and fiancé Christian Raeth, and grandson L.B. Holten and girlfriend Albana Prifti, and the light of her life, great-grandson Andrew Nargi. She is also survived by many wonderful nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors .

Besides her parents, husband and son, Anna was predeceased by her sisters Mary Altamura, Pauline Arcara and Rose Liga and her brothers Louis, Frank and Dominic Pezzella.

Anna had the kindest heart, which she kept full with family and friends. If she knew you, she wanted to know how you were and how she could provide love and support. She was everything to us and we will miss her deeply, but we know we will hold our time together with her close to our hearts.

Family and friends will gather on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Bennett Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, June 28th at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scarsdale, New York with burial to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.