Anita Spagnola

Anita was born in Waterbury, Connecticut on February 10, 1929, the daughter of Viola and Anthony Nardelli, both from San Pietro Infine, Italy. Anita had a strong faith in God and was extremely proud of her Italian heritage. The middle of three daughters, from a young age Anita worked in the family grocery store that would become home to the famous Nardelli grinder. She graduated from Waterbury Catholic High School and earned her Associates Degree at the Katherine Gibbs School in Hartford.

After their marriage, Anita and Eugene moved to the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Waterbury to start a family. Anita was a devoted mother who threw creative birthday parties for her three sons, and as they grew older, she encouraged them to pursue their passions. When the family moved to Woodbury, Anita returned to work as a regional representative for the Colonial Bank and Trust Company of Waterbury. Anita and Eugene retired to Florida in 1991 and enjoyed many years of travel overseas that Anita chronicled in scrapbooks full of photos and handwritten notes. Italy was her favorite destination, and she grew to love the country’s art and opera. Anita will always be remembered for her kindness, compassion, acceptance and warm smile.

She is survived by her two sisters Jane Desomma of Waterbury, Connecticut and Katherine Odoardo of West Palm Beach, Florida and her three sons Anthony (Annie) of New Haven, Connecticut, Joseph (Susan) of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and Eugene (Holly) of Harwinton, Connecticut. She also leaves four grandchildren Will, Madeleine, Jack and Thomas.

The Spagnola family would like to thank Jean Primane and Elizabeth Wilson for their loving care of Anita in recent years. In remembrance of Anita’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to the Lourdes Foundation, 315 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.