Anna Marinaro, 1931–2026, loving mother and grandmother

Anna (Cianci) Marinaro, of Waltham, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 at her home following a period of declining health. She was 95.

Born on Aug. 6, 1931, in Castelgrande, Italy, Anna was the daughter of the late Vincent and Carmela (DeSantis) Cianci. In Aug. 1964, she and her husband Nicola made the journey to the U.S., settling in Waltham where they would spend the rest of their lives, raise their family, and build a close circle of friends rooted in Italian tradition and community.

Anna brought her skill as a seamstress and dressmaker to her new home. She worked for years creating and altering clothing, applying the same careful hand and quiet determination that defined so much of her life.

She leaves her devoted children, Anna McKeon (Brian) of Lexington, Carmela Haque (Rizwan) of Waltham, Silvana Pascucci (Christopher) of Oyster Bay, New York and Lisa Marie Smith (Mark Tripp) of Sudbury; her grandchildren, Amanda Choi (William), Alexandra Drumm (Brian), Nasira Ewing (John), Imran Haque (Lynn), Nadeem Haque (Peter Glennon), Olivia Pascucci-Ramirez (Edwin), Nicholas Pascucci, Isabella Crawford (John), Joseph Pascucci, Alexander Smith, Christian Smith and Benjamin Smith; her great-grandchildren, Felicity Choi, James and Lily Ewing, Everly, Adison and Isla Haque, Luca and Theo Ramirez and Christopher Crawford; her sisters and brother, Rose Magno, Lawrence Cianci (Maria) and Pierina DiPace, all of Waltham; and many nieces, nephews and their families.

She was the wife of the late Nicola Marinaro, and sister of the late Angelo Cianci.

Family and friends will honor and remember Anna’s life by gathering for an evening wake in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.