Anne Grosso Luongo, a resident of the Bethel for many years, joyfully entered the kingdom of heaven on June 17, 2017.  She filled many roles in her long life – loving and kind mother, devoted spouse, respected and admired grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and great-aunt, good friend and confidante.  She was an example to all she met in her zest for life, her eagerness always to learn, take on new adventures, and her helpfulness in any situation. 

Anne was born in Port Chester, NY on April 27, 1921 to her parents Domenico Grosso and Domenica Maria Pace Grosso.  She graduated from Port Chester High School in 1939, then began her working days at the LifeSaver factory.  Anne joked with her family that she was the original Lucy in that she would eat more LifeSavers than she would package.  Anne then helped with the war effort at S & K Coats sewing buttons on coats for members of the military.

She met Michael A. Luongo Sr., the love of her life, at a friend’s wedding where they danced the night away. They married on April 16, 1944, and moved to Tacoma Washington where Michael was stationed in the U.S. Army.  Once again Anne helped with the war effort by working on the line at the Boeing Air Plant. 

After returning home to Port Chester, Anne and Michael relocated to Bethel to raise their family. Anne was always at the helm of the PTA and helped many other community organizations.   She had an entrepreneurial spirit that shined while being the manager of the “snack bar” at the former Grand Union in Danbury. She loved making homemade pizza for her customers and enjoyed working with all of her teenage employees.

After their children were raised, Anne and Michael retired to Fort Lauderdale, FL.  Anne always recalled that those were some of the best years of her life.  She loved the Florida lifestyle which they enjoyed for 29 years.  She generously opened their home to family and friends for visits, and made many new friends.  She enjoyed singing with a group called The Gateway Singers, using one of her many talents to entertain others.  Even later in her life she was always happy to volunteer her time to help a cause.  One of her recent favorites was being a member of the Bethel Senior Center knitting group, creating beautiful little creations for babies and their moms.  She loved to meet new people and loved to watch her children develop their own talents, be they sports, photography, art, dance and business.   

Anne is survived by her children, sons Michael Luongo, Jr. of Fort Lauderdale, FL, Daniel Luongo and his wife Gina of Bethel, and Deborah Matta and her husband Michael of Danbury.  She was pre-deceased by her daughter Joanne Luongo-Arjam in 1983. She was grandmother to Dana (Luongo) Albury and her husband Tim Albury of Sunrise, FL, Mahmood Farnaum Arjam and his wife Mellissa of Kent, England, Austin Griffing and his wife Jessica of Tequesta, FL, Georgina and Giovanni Luongo and Nicholas and Anthony Powers of Danbury, CT and great-grandmother to Preston and Anderson Albury, Birkley and Winnabelle Arjam, and Finnley and Jetty Griffing.  She is also survived by her brother John Grosse, and pre-deceased by her sisters Jean Pasquale, Carmela Lovallo and Diane Fidelibus. 

Anne was the quintessential Italian mother. Family meant everything to her, and family occasions were made special with her expertise in the kitchen and her innate ability to make simple days special ones. 

A Memorial Mass will take place on Saturday, July 8 at 10 a.m. at Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 14 Robinson Avenue, Danbury, CT.  The family requests that donations in Anne’s memory be sent to the American Cancer Society or the Bethel Visiting Nurse Association, 70 Stony Hill Road, Bethel, CT or to the charity of your choice.

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