Anna (Palma) Monfreda

Anna (Palma) Monfreda, 92, of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, after a period of declining health.

Anna was born in Sparanese, Italy, one of nine children of Rafaelle and Giulia Palma. Raised in Italy, Anna met Joseph A Monfreda, they married and immigrated to Worcester, where they raised their daughter and family in the Lake View neighborhood of Worcester with faith, family, love, and devotion before Joe passed away on February 18, 2016, after 49 years of marriage. Anna worked to help her family as a stitcher, many years for various manufacturers including Diane Marion Sports and Newton Sportswear before retiring.

She is survived by her daughter Congetta “Connie” Gustafson, and her husband Lawrence of Worcester; two grandsons that she adored, Joseph Gustafson and his wife Elizabeth and Michael Gustafson; three great granddaughters, Emily, Juliet, and Sarah; a brother, Guiseppe Palma, two sisters, Assunta Sorbo and Maria Piccirillo all in Italy; Nieces, nephews, extended family members both in the United States and Italy. In addition to her husband and parents, two brothers, Nicola, and Vitaliano Palma and three sisters, Filomena Farina, and Antoinetta Campanile, and Pierina Campanile all predeceased her.

Anna was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, in her life nothing was more important than her family. The matriarch of her family, she loved to cook, sharing her Italian delicacies, cookies and pastries with family, friends, and neighbors. Her home was always open to anyone visiting and everyone would never leave hungry or without a take home plate. Anna’s greatest moments in life were those spent with her family, sharing time together, enjoying their Italian heritage and family. She and her husband Joe enjoyed making frequent trips back to Italy to visit family and friends, the holidays and special moments together.

A period of calling hours will be held, Monday, November 20th, 2023, from 9:00 am to 10:30 am, in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St followed by a procession to St Anne's Church, 130 Boston Turnpike Rd where her funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am. Entombment in Notre Dame Mausoleum will follow.