Obituary for Anna M. DiMeo
Anna DiMeo, 80, longtime resident of Rutherford and recently of East Rutherford, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2020 at home. Anna battled metastatic breast cancer for years and did so with grace and courage. Her passing was peaceful with her loving husband, John, by her side.
Anna went by several monikers. She was named Anne by her loving parents, Jennie and George DeTitta, upon her birth in the Bronx, NY. The Italian doctor and priest changed the spelling of her name to Anna on the certificates, a discovery made when she married. Many grade school friends call her Anne-Marie. She has nicknames of Anna Banana, Annuch and Bubbles. Family calls her Mom, Ma – and most importantly – Nonna. Her role of Nonna extended not just to her seven beautiful grandchildren, but to many in the community. Anna’s community extended well beyond Rutherford and was truly International.
Anna went to Cathedral High School in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. There she met her lifelong friends. She attended Fordham University, majoring in Philosophy. There she met John DiMeo. They married in 1962 Together they raised their three children, Daria, Anthony and Andrew. Anna worked primarily as an educator, acquiring her Master’s in Education from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City; she went on to teach at and retire from from St. Mary High School in Rutherford, NJ. She also had a career as a Set Dresser for Local 52 I.A.T.S.E where she worked on movies such as Deathtrap and Prince of the City. Her side gig was to cater home made luncheons for the Fulbright Scholarship award committee at the United Nations in New York City. Anna volunteered many hours as a grief counselor, Eucharistic Minister and a CCD teacher through the Catholic Church. Most recently she was an Academic Coach at Montclair State University, teaching fellow students and mentoring student athletes. Anna’s education never ended – she earned countless credits as an adult learner at MSU, focusing on music and Italian.
Over the years, Anna, along with John, have lived in Park Ridge, Cherry Hill, West New York, Rutherford and East Rutherford, New Jersey as well as in Santa Anna, California. Along the way countless friends were made – many lifelong – and they reside all over the globe!
Above all else, Anna cherished her family. Anna is survived by her husband John, who cared for her until the end. She is survived by her three children and their families. Her daughter Daria Ann Jerauld and her husband Bob Jerauld reside in Kansas. Her son Anthony John DiMeo and his wife April Gilmore reside in New Jersey. Her son Andrew John DiMeo, Sr. and his wife Abigail Kent reside in North Carolina. Anna is survived by her seven grandchildren: Alek Jerauld, Olyvia Jerauld, Danielle DiMeo, Nicholas DiMeo, Grace DiMeo, Virginia and Andrew John DiMeo, Jr. Anna is also survived by her two older siblings, George DeTitta and Marie DeTitta, as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Jennie DeTitta.
A private burial will be held and formal services will take place in or near Rutherford, NJ at a later date at the convenience of the family. Anna’s name will be inscribed in the perpetual book of life at the chapel of the New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa. The Monks of the Abbey built Anna's casket. Anna will be included in a Mass of remembrance to be held at New Melleray Abbey on September 30, 2020 and a tree will be planted in the Monks' private monastic forest as a living memorial to Anna. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to The Cancer Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to The Cancer Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey.
Anna went by several monikers. She was named Anne by her loving parents, Jennie and George DeTitta, upon her birth in the Bronx, NY. The Italian doctor and priest changed the spelling of her name to Anna on the certificates, a discovery made when she married. Many grade school friends call her Anne-Marie. She has nicknames of Anna Banana, Annuch and Bubbles. Family calls her Mom, Ma – and most importantly – Nonna. Her role of Nonna extended not just to her seven beautiful grandchildren, but to many in the community. Anna’s community extended well beyond Rutherford and was truly International.
Anna went to Cathedral High School in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. There she met her lifelong friends. She attended Fordham University, majoring in Philosophy. There she met John DiMeo. They married in 1962 Together they raised their three children, Daria, Anthony and Andrew. Anna worked primarily as an educator, acquiring her Master’s in Education from St. Peter’s College in Jersey City; she went on to teach at and retire from from St. Mary High School in Rutherford, NJ. She also had a career as a Set Dresser for Local 52 I.A.T.S.E where she worked on movies such as Deathtrap and Prince of the City. Her side gig was to cater home made luncheons for the Fulbright Scholarship award committee at the United Nations in New York City. Anna volunteered many hours as a grief counselor, Eucharistic Minister and a CCD teacher through the Catholic Church. Most recently she was an Academic Coach at Montclair State University, teaching fellow students and mentoring student athletes. Anna’s education never ended – she earned countless credits as an adult learner at MSU, focusing on music and Italian.
Over the years, Anna, along with John, have lived in Park Ridge, Cherry Hill, West New York, Rutherford and East Rutherford, New Jersey as well as in Santa Anna, California. Along the way countless friends were made – many lifelong – and they reside all over the globe!
Above all else, Anna cherished her family. Anna is survived by her husband John, who cared for her until the end. She is survived by her three children and their families. Her daughter Daria Ann Jerauld and her husband Bob Jerauld reside in Kansas. Her son Anthony John DiMeo and his wife April Gilmore reside in New Jersey. Her son Andrew John DiMeo, Sr. and his wife Abigail Kent reside in North Carolina. Anna is survived by her seven grandchildren: Alek Jerauld, Olyvia Jerauld, Danielle DiMeo, Nicholas DiMeo, Grace DiMeo, Virginia and Andrew John DiMeo, Jr. Anna is also survived by her two older siblings, George DeTitta and Marie DeTitta, as well as countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Jennie DeTitta.
A private burial will be held and formal services will take place in or near Rutherford, NJ at a later date at the convenience of the family. Anna’s name will be inscribed in the perpetual book of life at the chapel of the New Melleray Abbey in Peosta, Iowa. The Monks of the Abbey built Anna's casket. Anna will be included in a Mass of remembrance to be held at New Melleray Abbey on September 30, 2020 and a tree will be planted in the Monks' private monastic forest as a living memorial to Anna. In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to The Cancer Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey.
In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to The Cancer Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey.