Anna V. (Vaudo) DeForte, age 66, of Chelmsford, formerly of Medford, passed away on Sunday, March 27th. Born and raised in Gaeta, Lazio, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Pasquale and Maria (Antetomaso) Vaudo. Anna worked for many years as a cook in the public school system where she lovingly prepared lunches for the children of Arlington for over 3O years. All who were fortunate enough to taste her food - which included, but definitely not limited to her Arancinis, chicken cutlets and Italian cookies - know that no restaurant or recipe will ever compare. Her passion and love for cooking cannot be duplicated by anybody!
Family was everything to Anna. She was a devoted Nonna who wanted nothing more than to squeeze her grandchildren’s cheeks, watch them devour her food, and spoil them in all ways possible. Anna was kind and generous to all and never hesitated to help people in any way she could. She was diagnosed with ALS in 2020, and although it took her body away from her over the course of two years, she was a true fighter until the end, refusing to allow this relentless disease to take her spirit.
Anna was the beloved wife of Joseph DeForte, and the devoted mother of Antonio DeForte and his wife Rosann of Dracut, and Rita Fazio and her husband James of Chelmsford. She was the loving grandmother of Hailey and Alexander DeForte and Ella and Jacob Fazio. Anna was the dear sister of Antonietta Iacobelli and her husband Alessio, and sister-in-law of Josephine Moreira and her husband Ronald, Maryann Kintner and her husband Russell, and Maria DeForte-Enos and her late husband Wayne Enos. She was the cherished aunt of James, Christina, Alexander, Maxwell, Pio, Clementina and Ivan. Anna is also survived by her dear friend Lisa Patalano and her late husband Raymond, and many loving cousins in the U.S. and Italy.
A funeral will be held from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, on Saturday, April 2nd at 10:30 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in Immaculate Conception Church, 600 Pleasant St., Malden, at 11:30 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Friday, April 1st from 4 PM through 7 PM. Services will conclude with entombment at Holy Cross Mausoleum, Malden. In lieu of flowers, contributions for ALS research may be sent in Anna’s name to: https://donate.ma.als.org/fundraiser/3804420.