Anne M. (DeFormato) Donnelly

Anne M. Donnelly, age 99, resident of Norwalk, passed away peacefully on July 9, 2018. Born in Stamford, the fifth child of Frank and Carmela (Sabia) DeFormato, who immigrated to the United States in 1906 from Avigliano, Provincia di Potenza, Italy.  Anne attended Stamford schools and as a young woman, worked at Yale & Town. Anne enjoyed dancing and telling her great grandchildren of her childhood and how she met her husband, Maurice Francis Donnelly, at a dance. They married in 1938 and raised four children. Once Anne and her husband married, Anne’s main job was being a loving and devoted wife and mother.

In 1954 Anne danced the Foxtrot in the Harvest Moon Ball with Mario DeCarlo. Although they did not win, their photograph was the centerfold of the NY Daily News. That photo captured one of her most cherished memories. Anne became a resident of The Marvin, Norwalk in 2005 and loved living there, where she had beautiful friendships with many of the residents. She loved solving crossword puzzles and worked jigsaw puzzles for hours. She also loved playing Bingo with the residents. Anne was among the residents at The Marvin that created beautiful quilts to send to the troops abroad. She also crocheted and created beautiful crewel artwork for each of her children and grandchildren.

Anne is survived by her loving children, Maureen Moccia and her husband Gene of Norwalk, Dorothea Sanborn of Texas, Francis (Jim) Donnelly of California and Anthony Donnelly of Canada; her loving grandchildren, Allyson Vallerie and her husband John, Daryl Moccia and wife Jennifer, Amy Bruzzone, Jason Bruzzone and wife Kaelin; and six great-grandchildren, whom she adored and was “GG” to them; Shannon and Erin Vallerie, Merrill and Celia Moccia, and Ava and Zachary Bruzzone, along with many, much loved nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Maurice in 1962, her parents Carmela and Frank and all of her siblings; Nell Tota, Peter DeFormato, Marie Guasco, William DeFormato, Jean Mackey, Frances DeFormato and Palma Burns.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, July 16 at St. Matthew Church, 216 Scribner Ave, Norwalk, with burial to follow at St. John Cemetery, Darien.  Friends may greet her family on Monday at the church from 9:30 until Mass begins.  In lieu of flowers, Anne has requested that anyone who would like to honor her memory may make contributions to St. Matthew Church, 216 Scribner Ave, Norwalk, CT 06854 or The Marvin, Under One Roof, 60 Gregory Blvd, Norwalk, CT 06855.

The family would like to thank all the terrific caregivers from Masonicare Home Health and the staff of The Marvin, as well as the wonderful caregivers at Autumn Lake Healthcare for the love and compassion shown to Anne.