About Anna

photo enhanced with color by Nita Gibson

Anna Maria Fairbanks, passed into the gates of Heaven and into the loving arms of Jesus and those she loved who passed before her on September 16, 2012 at 12:42 a.m. Anna was born to Federico and Lena Jorio and was born July 30, 1939, in Vicenza, Italy. She married in 1957 in Vicenza Italy to an American soldier, Richard Galgozy. Anna came to America in 1959 and made the Niles-Warren area her home. She had 3 children, Richard jr., Cynthia and Dennis. She divorced in 1966.

 

Anna then married the love of her life...to Charles R. Fairbanks until 1977. She and Chuck remained the best of friends until his passing in 2007. CHARLES R FAIRBANKS FAIRBANKS,Date of birth: March 14, 1940,Date of death: March 26, 2007
In  addition to her three children, Anna helped raise Kent and Kerry Fairbanks, the two sons of Charles.

 


 
 


 

Anna with her father, Professor Federico Jorio of the University of Vicenza. He spoke and taught 7 languages, along with his wife Pena.  My mom's mother, Lena, whom my mom loved so very much passed away of a brain aneurism around 1983.


Butterfly on my mom's favorite flower. Photo taken while she was in hospice when I ran back to her town home to get her mail.
Among those who knew her, Anna's personality of constant laughter will be most remembered. She said her greatest achievement had been reached when she became a US Citizen in her early years and an artist/painter in her latter years. Anna never met a stranger and had friends all over the world that she knew personally. Anna worked hard and long to raise her family, initially at Andi-Pastries in Warren, OH, to Pacal Plastics. She retired from Chieffo's Frozen Foods in Niles, Ohio. Anna was a very active member of the Niles SCOPE center and could be found there near daily. She was a singer in the SCOPE choir and visited numerous nursing homes bringing soft sounds of love to those in their final days. Anna loved gardening, casino trips and her favorite hobby...painting florals and scenes of nature. She always got a huge smile by her nickname "Anna Banana-Copagabana." She loved long walks and many times offered to take the neighbor's children or pets along with her to give their families respite. But more than anything she took extra pride in her children and grandchildren. Her laughter, Italian accent and constant phrase "Okie Fenokie" will be forever remembered with a smile. To Anna, all in life was "Beauuuuutiful!" and that is how we all will remember her. A beautiful person, a friend to all.


My Mom loved:

• God, her children/grandchildren and family.
• babies
• small critters, even mice!
• her bird
• her plants and her tomato plants
• flowers
• music and especially opera and male singers. Her favorite IL DIVO
• traveling
• casinos
• bingo
• the color "lilac" (no matter what color of purple, it was always "lilac")
• clothing ; my mom loved to get new clothes, even if used or hand me down. They were new to her and she would tell me all about her new sweater or top!
• parks and benches in parks
• walking
• old movies; she much preferred as opposed to new movies
•  baby dolls. she just loved them!
• her group at the Niles Scope Senior Center. She loved going.
• Her choir that she sang in at the nursing homes.
• people. My mom loved ALL people. She held no prejudice.
• Cooking. Although, truth be told my mom was not a good cook. We still smile as we would tell her it was delicious as we knew she loved to cook. However, for years she was a pasta chef for a company that made and manufactured frozen Pasta Specialty Products in the grocery stores. She was excellent at that!
• She used to love wine. I am not sure if she outgrew it as she got older but she always continued the practice of a glass of wine for dinner and her favorite was actually "cheap" wine, Morgan David. She loved it!