Anna “Annie” Michelina Naumann (Zappitelli)
January 22, 1946-May 9, 2021
It is with profound sorrow that our family announces, in her 75th year, the sudden passing of our Mom, Mama, sister and Auntie.
Annie was called to her heavenly home to be with her husband Eugene, her mother and father Iolanda and Tony, her youngest brother Robert and her beloved granddaughter Hope; all rejoicing and reuniting with her to embrace among the stars.
Among all of her beloved family and friends, Annie will be remembered for her genuine kindness, her love of many, her joy in visiting with people and especially her generously welcoming and selfless nature.
Annie is survived by her adoring children – Mary (Hooch) & Lisa and son-in-law Howie, her beloved grandchildren Alexandra and Howie Junior.
As well, surviving her is her brother and best friend, Chris Zappitelli and sister-in-law Barb will miss the daily visits, the many trips to Vegas, the ritual of dinners and coffee‘s and meeting together for shows such as New Amsterdam or Dancing with the Stars and simply the pleasure of her company and all that she knew will leave an enormous void.
Pre deceased on the Naumann side by her in-laws, Eugene & Whilemina Naumann, and brother in law Hans.
She is also survived by her dear brother-in-law Dwight Naumann and her sisters in-laws Kathy, Joanne and Marianne. As well as numerous cousins and family members.
Mary and Lisa‘s lives centred around their mom and Annie spent many occasions over the past 53 years helping her children, caring for them, cooking for them and loving them in anyway that they required. Mom, if not visiting in person, would often call or receive calls several times a day and most recently she learned to text, Facebook and FaceTime which allowed her to feel near despite any distance. Whether near or far, she was a breath away and a staple in our lives.
Annie’s world lit up when her grandchildren, her nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews were in the room. And they adored her right back, flocking to Auntie Annie. She loved all children especially her family and she was the happiest when we were all together. While we revelled in the grand times together, her love shone through in the small, quiet times of hair brushing, cooking and teaching to bake, the nightly drives with nana and teaching us how to drive under the cloak of darkness, the way she protected us like a mama bear, the hugs and the genuine time she took to care about what each of us were currently doing in our lives.
Annie immigrated to Canada from Campobasso, Italy in 1952 with her family by the ship ‘LaGuardia’ to Pier 21 in Halifax then travelling by train to Ignace where she grew up learning to acclimatize to all things Canadian, the struggles to build a family and tirelessly helped her mom & dad build and operate the restaurant and gas station business. She could recount without fail any story or experience or people who frequented the restaurant but also in all the stages of her life as she had an impeccable memory. She could recount stories of school, her classmates, blueberry picking and gatherings (where, when and with who), the White Rose, the Husky, Westwood, she remembered every gift Lisa got for her wedding and from whom. Her mind was a vault with every memory that we shared and perhaps even forgotten. Anyone who visited the restaurant was greeted by a kind smile from Annie and left there with a feeling of belonging.
Annie and Eugene were married in June 24, 1967. They celebrated 50 years of matrimony only a few days prior to Eugene’s passing in 2017. Having family and friends there to celebrate and hold her when she couldn’t stand carried her through this very difficult time.
On January 22, 2021, during the global pandemic, she celebrated her 75th birthday with gifts of time from friends and a FaceTime party with her beloved children and grandchildren. What a time she had just watching and listening to our laughter. A party was planned for when we could all safely be together again after covid.
Annie gave of herself to the lives and development of her family, particularly her children and her grandchildren. She was often seen in her car driving the kids (Lisa and Mary and her nieces and nephews) to and from school and activities, finding them at parties, picking up friends, bountifully cooking for them and just sitting in their presence. Annie had a large repertoire of pie and pasta recipes but only catering to feed 20 or more. No one complained.
As her children grew in their own lives, she was, at a moments notice, available for each of them through good times and struggles. She welcomed every single friend, every extended family member and even strangers with such generosity and a welcoming nature that everyone felt loved and at home in her presence. She didn’t care about worldly possessions as much as she hoped that those that she loved were comfortable and happy. She was the epitome of grace, unconditional love and unconditional protection.
Mom left us with so many happy memories, so many abundant experiences, so many people calling her ‘Auntie Annie’ or ‘dear friend’ or (her favourite) ‘Mama’.
We are thankful to each person who spent time with mom over the years; those who cared for her, those who remember her fondly, the amazing nurses in Ignace, the wonderful ICU staff at Thunder Bay Health Sciences where mom‘s heart decided that it was time to go to the loving arms of the Lord on Mother’s Day.
Mom leaves the legacy of unconditional love and unwavering protection for her family which is so rare, but a beacon to all those she encountered.
We have all learned from her selfless nature. She will be missed deeper than the oceans and longer than time. Her love will be echoed every second of our days, she left a feeling of love deep in each of our hearts that we will carry on for the rest of our lives.
“All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother”
Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ignace, ON. COVID restrictions are in place. Maximum 10 person capacity. Masks are mandatory.
A Private Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 1 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ignace, ON with Father Alan Campeau officiating.
Interment will follow in the Ignace Cemetery.
Donations may be made to Blessings in a Backpack through the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Avenue, Dryden, ON P8N 2X3
Condolences may be posted at www.dcfh.ca
