Anna “Anna Banana” M. Berardi, 51, of Naugatuck

OBITUARY courtesy of Maiorano Funeral Home

THE FAMILY CARETAKER

Miss Anna “Anna Banana” M. Berardi, age 51, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, August 9, 2021.

Born in Waterbury on September 20, 1969, Anna was the daughter of Rachele (D’Amelio) (Berardi) Cuccinello and the late Francis Berardi, Sr. She was a graduate of Wilby High School, Class of 1991. She worked for WARC for over 26 years and Easter Seals for the past 3 years. Anna participated in the Waterbury Special Olympics for over 40 years winning numerous medals in Track and Field, Swimming and Bowling.

Quiet and kind, Anna lived by the saying “Smile, Shine Bright and Be Kind”. Anna had an innate motherly nature. She loved to take care of all the family pets, feed and watch all the birds in her yard and care for her baby dolls. That never stopped her from being flirty whenever the opportunity presented itself. She loved to write and draw and take trips to Walmart and Dollar Tree. Anna was completely devoted to her family. She especially loved spending time with her great-nieces and great-nephew, Anjahlianna, Giada and Anthony.

In addition to Rachele, her mom, Anna is survived by her brother Francis Berardi, Jr. and his wife Michelle of Waterbury, her sister, Antoniette Oddon and her husband Wayne of Naugatuck, her step-brothers, Billy Cuccinello, of Waterbury and Anthony Cuccinello of Key West, FL, and her step-sisters, Grace Mendez and her husband Andres of Waterbury and Mary Acevedo and her husband Armando of Waterbury. She also leaves several nieces and nephews including Rachele D’Averso, Francis Berardi III, Wayne Oddon, Jr. and Carissa Berardi whom she considered her own “children”. In addition to Francis Sr., her dad, Anna was predeceased by her sister Jennifer A. Berardi.

Anna’s funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 9:00am from Maiorano Funeral Home, 95 Willow St., Waterbury to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church for a Mass at 11:00am. Entombment will follow in Calvary Queen of Peace Mausoleum. Family and friends may visit with her family on Wednesday morning from 9:00-10:30am at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Anna’s name may be made to: “Waterbury Special Olympics” and send to Special Olympics, 2666 State St., Suite 1, Hamden, CT 06517. For more information and online condolences visit www.maioranofuneralhome.com