Obituary: Annalee Emanuel, 90, of Wilton

WILTON, CT --- Annalee Emanuel, a former cover model with deep blue eyes and a talent for interior design, died on Wednesday, April 18, at The Greens at Cannondale in Wilton, CT. She was 90.

Annalee was born in New York City on March 6, 1928. She started modeling in her late teens, and was on the cover of British Vogue and Cosmopolitan, along with being featured in various editorial spreads. She was one of the first top models to model lingerie, and in 1949 Quick Magazine published an article documenting her courageous night out in a slip dress at the Waldorf-Astoria.

Annalee married the sculptor, Herzl Emanuel, and they lived together in Rome, Italy with their children from 1962 to 1969.

In 1969 Annalee moved to Westport, Connecticut, where she became a mezzosoprano and sang solos regularly at churches and recitals in the Fairfield County area. From the 1980s to the early 2000s, she was hired to do the interior decorating of many local restaurants, including the Bear & Grill restaurant on Black Rock Turnpike. Her interior design work was featured in Architectural Digest and Country Living magazines.

Annalee lived out the last part of her life in Southport, Connecticut, where she was the landlord of multiple cottages surrounded by cherry blossom trees. This was a regular destination for family gatherings. Annalee loved giving her grandchildren apples and carrots to feed to the horses that lived next door.

She is survived by her four children, Doranna Wendel, Mark Emanuel, Henry Emanuel, and Adam Emanuel, as well as her grandchildren, Moses Wendel, Lilly Wendel, Jake Emanuel, Olivia Wendel, Zoe Wendel, Max Emanuel, Jared Emanuel, Amanda Emanuel, Daniella Emanuel, Josh Emanuel and Rachel Emanuel, and five great-grandchildren.

Burial service was held on April 20 at Willow Brook, 395 Main Street, Westport, CT.