Published October 25, 2019
STONEHAM — Anna V. (Castellano) Farese, 89, of Stoneham and formerly of Burlington, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
Anna was born in Somerville on January 9, 1930, one of seven children of the late Salvatore Castellano and Mary (Carbone) DiPerna. She was raised in Somerville, where she graduated from Somerville High School, Class of 1948. She was married to Elio Farese in 1951, and they settled in Burlington to raise a family of three daughters.
Anna was an amazing cook who shared her love of Italian specialties with her family, friends and neighbors. She found great joy in hosting family holidays, entertaining everyone with lots of food, and her sarcastic wit. A loyal, dedicated and supportive mother, Anna also took great pride in being a constant presence in the lives of her grandchildren. From their births, graduations, and birthday parties, she never missed an event for her grandchildren. In her free time, Anna enjoyed knitting, sewing, reading, and cherished time spent with her family.
After raising her family in Burlington, she retired to Florida where she lived in North Palm Beach for many years. Independent and strong willed, Anna was also a wonderful and caring friend to her neighbors.
Anna will be deeply missed, but her dedication to her family, her strong will, and her memorable quick wit will be forever cherished by her family.
Anna was the devoted mother of Janice Mann and her partner Michael Bridges of Melrose, Elaine Coughlin and her husband Jack of Tampa, Fla., and Carol Farese-Viola and her husband Mark of Melrose. Loving sister of Roberta Reardon of Burlington and Rosemarie D’Angelo of Tewksbury. Cherished grandmother of Erin Coughlin, Bridget Lopez and her husband Jay, Michael Coughlin and his wife Heather, Kevin Coughlin, Kaitlin Coughlin, Zoë Viola, and Zaden Viola. Proud great-grandmother of Clark and Reese Lopez. Former wife of Elio Farese of Sarasota, Fla. Also survived by her “like” daughters, Diana Grace of Ocala, Fla., and Michelle Mangano of Hopkinton, and her many special nieces and nephews.
In addition to her family, Anna had the regular support and presence of her best friend, Jeanne DiFebbo of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and was blessed with devoted and loving caregivers, Gloria, Tommi, and Thelma.
Relatives and friends gathered in honor of Anna’s life during visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose, on Sunday, Oct. 20 and for her funeral service at the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church, 70 W. Emerson St., Melrose, on Monday, Oct. 21. Gifts in Anna’s memory may be made to the American Lung Association, 1661 Worcester Rd., #301, Framingham, MA 01701. For more info: RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
