Holden: Anna Losapio Granquist, 89, of Holden, died at home surrounded by family on September 25th of pancreatic cancer. Anna was born in Worcester, daughter of Giovanna “Jenny” Carelli Avellino Losapio and Mauro Losapio. She was predeceased by her husband Paul Oliver Granquist and her sisters Lucy Losapio and Esther Losapio Fortner. She leaves her son David Granquist and Laurie Johnson of Petersham, MA and grandson Hans Granquist of Montague, MA, and her daughter Lisa Granquist, PhD and Thomas Dorward of South Chatham, MA and grandchildren Charise Van Liew, Paul Van Liew and Janika Schmidt, Douglas and Bailey Van Liew and great grandchildren Raelynn and Rhett, and Bryan Dorward. She also leaves her brother, Thomas Losapio of Orlando, her nieces and nephews Daniel and Michele Losapio and their sons Page, Justin and Max of Fort Myers, FL, and Steven, Laurie, Carrie Beth, and Bill. She leaves many dear friends, colleagues, and former students who were always central to her life and activities.
Anna worked for prominent doctors in Worcester during and after graduating from Worcester’s North High School. She worked at the Pentagon and managed the Clark University Music and Visual and Performing Arts departments for over 30 years beginning in the late 1960s.
Anna shared her love of music through teaching and mentoring young musicians. She taught voice in the Artists in Residence Program at Wachusett Regional High School for many years. Her voice students have participated in regional and national competitions, and many have gone on to careers in music and the arts. Anna mentored many Clark University and WPI music students that continued their friendships with her long after graduation.
She was a member of many choruses, including The Worcester Chorus, Trinity Lutheran Church Choir, Master Singers of Worcester, Boston Pops Fourth of July Chorus, Tanglewood Chorus, Great Waters Festival Chorus (Wolfeboro, NH). Most recently, on July 29, she sang the National Anthem at Polar Park with a small group from Trinity Choir to open a Worcester Red Sox game. She stayed for the whole game! She was a member of Music Worcester, Music Students Club, and the former Music Guild of Worcester.
Anna and her sister Esther traveled extensively with the WPI choruses and Worcester Chorus through Europe, the UK, Russia and former Eastern European nations performing new and master works in breathtaking venues.
Anna loved to ski, play tennis, spend time on Cape Cod, garden, and chaperone Trinity Lutheran’s Youth skiing and white-water rafting trips and spend time with her lifelong friends.
Anna’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Beacon Hospice in caring for Anna.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 9, at 10am with pre-service music at 9:40am, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster St, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Music Worcester (musicworcester.org). Masks required for safety’s sake.
Nordgren Memorial Chapel 300 Lincoln St. Worcester is honored to assist the family with arrangements. To leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.