Anna R. Battista Keiser

Anna R. (Marotta) Battista-Keiser, 95 of Shrewsbury, passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at home. She is survived by her beloved husband of twenty years, Bernard J. Keiser; a daughter, Lydia Brady and her husband Jay of Ludlow; a step-son, Gregory Keiser and his wife Brenda of Medway; a step-daughter, Joan Keiser of Shrewsbury; three grandchildren, Susan Bultrus, Maya and Alex Brady; three great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by a daughter, Noreen Goretti; a grandson, Stephen Goretti; a sister, Christine "Kiki" Battista; a brother, Carlo Marotta. Anna was born in Sparanise, Italy, a daughter, the late Vito M. and Concetta (Mandolfi) Marotta. She moved to Worcester at young age and graduated from Commerce High School. Anna was the co-owner along with her late husband Domenic of Battista's Market on Laurel Street for forty years before her retirement in 1979. She then moved to Shrewsbury and has lived there for the past 32 years. She was a member of St. Anne's Church, Shrewsbury and their Senior Club. She was a longtime member of the San Vitaliano Women's Society, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Golden Years and Our Lady of Loreto Leisure Club. Anna was also very involved and coordinated the Olympian's Travel Group. Some of her enjoyments in life were traveling, reading, knitting and cooking. Services for Anna will be held on Friday, January 27, 2012 from the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in St. Anne's Church, 130 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Worcester. A period of calling hours will be held on Friday morning from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the funeral home prior to her funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. To share your thoughts and memories of Anna, please visit her personal guestbook at: mercadantefuneral.com.