Anna (Gesualdi) Calitri

Anna (Gesualdi) Calitri, 89, of Danvers, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at her home in Danvers, Massachusetts. She was the devoted wife of the late Joseph Calitri, with whom she shared nearly 60 years of marriage.

Born in Panni, Italy on June 9, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Arcangelo and Costanza Gesualdi. She immigrated to the United States in November 1954 following her courtship and marriage to Joseph shortly after his United States Army service in France. Joe and Anna married in their hometown Panni, Italy on May 13, 1954. Following their marriage, the couple settled in Danvers where they raised their seven children. Together the couple worked tirelessly to not only live the American dream but to embody it. Anna was an integral part of the family businesses, Sam & Joes Restaurant and Calitri’s Restaurant. She embraced the opportunity to teach many of her grandchildren how to “make the sauce.” Retiring at age 84, her efforts helped feed generations of pasta and pizza lovers across the North Shore.

Anna was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin, godmother, friend and neighbor. To know Anna was to love her. She always saw the best in people and she was the first to offer words of encouragement. Anna also had a very special way of communicating with people, making an instant connection with anyone who was fortunate enough to meet her.

Aside from taking care of her family, friends and acquaintances, she loved tending to her vegetable garden and the flower beds along the stone walls her father built. It brought her such joy whenever any family member or friend ventured into the space that she loved so much to pick just the right vegetable for their next meal.

Anna is survived by her seven children, Antinetta Ryan and her husband, Philip, Maria Bettencourt and her husband, Antonio, Ralph Calitri and his wife, Tracy, Theresa Fleury, Angelina Calitri, Anthony Calitri and his wife, Pam, and Joanna Giampietro and her husband, Walter.

She is also survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Joseph and Jill Ryan and their son, Koa, Courtney Ryan, Jill and Mark Anderson and their children, Bree and Cole, Jolene and Jeff Divoll and their son, Blake, Rachael and Tyler DeStefano and their children, Harrison and Ella, Katherine and Frank Piazza and their children, Valentina and Joey, Rosa and Matt Langlais and their children, Tyler and Dylan, Angela Calitri and her son, Lucas, Peter Calitri and Amanda Vocell, Angela Fleury, Michael Fleury Jr., Michael Calitri and fiancé, Amanda Rich, Joseph Calitri, Nicholas Calitri and Mackenzie Roy, Haley Giampietro, and Marissa Giampietro and Aren Tulp. Surviving sisters include Grace Mastrangelo and Maria Tofalo. Surviving sisters-in-law include Guiseppinna Gesualdi, Anna Lapolla and Mary Brooks and her husband, Donald. She is survived by many very loving nieces and nephews as well, which include her godchildren, Anthony Ciruolo, Vito Mastrangelo, Anthony Brooks and Michelle Sutherland.

Anna was predeceased by her parents, Arcangelo and Costanza (DelVicario) Gesualdi, husband Joseph Calitri, father and mother-in-law, Antonio and Raffaella (Totilo) Calitri, son-in-law Michael Fleury Sr., brother Giovanni Gesualdi, Godson Costanzo Gesualdi, sister-in-law Antinetta Ciruolo, brothers-in-law, Sam Ciruolo, Angelo Mastrangelo and Antonio Lapolla.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 3, 2025 at 10AM in Saint Mary of the Annunciation Church, 24 Conant St., Danvers. Burial will follow in the Annunciation Cemetery, Danvers. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Sunday, March 2nd from 4-7PM in C.R. Lyons & Sons, Funeral Directors, 28 Elm St., Danvers Square. Memorial donations in her name may be made to Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome Association, P.O. Box 270341, Milwaukee, WI, 53227 or Danvers People to People Food Pantry, P.O. Box 2076, Danvers, MA, 01923.