Anne S. (Comita) DesLongchamps, beloved wife of the late Francis X. DesLongchamps, and the daughter of the late Theresa (Riga) Comita and Andrew Comita, Sr., has died on November 1, 2022. She was 95 years old and a longtime Woburn resident.
Born in Winchester, MA, she was one of eleven children and a graduate of Winchester High School.
Growing up in the Comita household, the family experienced many hardships. They were able to overcome their hardships by living off their own grown farmland. They also knew how to have fun. Anne’s twin brothers, who were very talented and great entertainers, played harmonica at home and on Saturday nights at their dance hall. Anne loved to sing and would join her two sisters harmonizing songs of the era. She always had a passion to sing with a big-named band.
On the night of the Fourth of July, she and her two sisters traveled to Revere Beach to see the fireworks. Anne had just graduated in June and that night would change her life forever.
She met the “love of her life”, Fran, as he was affectionately known, who had just come home from serving his country and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps. A romance began at first sight and ended up with an everlasting, loving marriage of 62 years.
Anne’s very first job was at Jay’s in Boston, a very exclusive high-end clothing store, as a bookkeeping machine operator. She left Jay’s and was hired by Standard Brands, Co., a wholesale food distributor, as bookkeeper and stenographer.
During this period, Fran surprised her with an engagement ring along the Charles River in Boston, MA and one year later wedding plans were in the making. Anne returned to Jay’s and bought her wedding gown that was made of French lace.
The special day arrived, and on August 20, 1950, Anne and Fran were married by a very young Father Burke of the Immaculate Conception Church. This was his very first wedding. A reception was held at Anne’s parents’ home in Winchester. After the garden party, they honeymooned at Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
On her return to Standard Brands Co., they had planned to move out of Boston. She was hired by E.L. Ham Co., a tile and rug Co., as Executive Administrator. This job had a long run of 20 years, until a tragic fire happened at their warehouse, causing a terrible loss of all their inventory, and they couldn’t survive.
Anne took time off but could not remain idle. She was hired by Bank Vault Service Co. as a bookkeeper. They sold vaults, safes and services to all banks and jewelers. After a few years, she finally retired.
Anne and Fran loved the outdoors. They did a lot of hiking and camping. They have climbed Mt. Washington, Mt. Adams and Mt. Katardin more than once and spent many weekends at Sebago Lake in Maine and on the Cape in Dennis, MA. They loved traveling and her favorite spot was Las Vegas.
Anne had many hobbies, one of which stood out was her talent in sewing and designing her own outfits. She also had a green thumb for her beautiful rock garden. Fran and Anne were known as “rock hounds” and carried many pink and white quartz home from the mines of Maine and New Hampshire for their own rock garden.
Their most exciting trip was a trip to the Herkimer Mines in New York with friends and camping overnight. Anne said, “It was really amazing. The Herkimer Diamonds are found in pockets when digging and are so clear with facets as though the jeweler had cut them.”
Anne and Fran were such a loving couple and always expressed their love to one another. Their famous quote to each other was, “You’re my everything.” Anne has now finally joined her soulmate and will greatly be missed by all.
She was the loving sister of John Comita and his late wife Mal, of Winchester, Frank Comita and his late wife Marlene, of Bridgewater, Theresa Dusablon of Lynn, and the late Hugo Comita, Albina Bartlett, Andrew Comita, Elizabeth Gigliotti, Catherine Zambella, Frank Comita, Thomas Comita and Florence Dunn. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Visiting Hours will be held in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, MA on Saturday, November 5 from 8:00-9:30 AM. A Funeral Mass will be held in St. Barbara’s Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn, at 10:00AM. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Winchester. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anne’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter, 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452. https://www.alz.org/manh