Obituary for Anna Failla (Corsaro)
Anna “Nonna” Corsaro Failla, 93, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on November 22nd, 2023.
Anna was born in Torre Del Greco, a province of Naples, Italy. She was the second of 5 children. Her family was very close, and she had many, many friends. Her Father owned a successful lumbar business. There was also horror, for as a young teenager, she saw her home bombed multiple times during World War II. It was Anna’s strength that pushed her through this time, raising her younger siblings when it was too much for her mother.
Anna moved to the United States in the 1950’s. She studied in New York City, at Fordham University. She excelled in Mathematics and teaching, working for IBM for several years. She met and lived with 2 of her lifelong friends, Yvette, who came from France, and Tina from Brooklyn. The 3 women stayed as close as the 3 musketeers their whole lives. It was in New York she met her future husband, James Failla. When her first child was born, she became a stay-at-home Mom. They lived briefly in Brooklyn, Queens, and Montauk NY, before settling in Milford PA, in the late 1960’s with their 3 children.
For a city person, Anna acclimated well in Milford. She made many friends, learned to ski, and became the bridge playing shark of the town. Everyone not only loved her Italian accent, her “Annaisms” due to it became endearing. All of her children’s friends referred to her as a second mom, always letting them stay over and feeding them well. Anna had a reputation for being an incredible cook and this didn’t go unnoticed by her kids and kids’ friends. In the Fall, for a few weeks, the kitchen was off limits as Anna canned 100+ bottles of tomatoes to make her delicious sauce, along with canning peaches, pears, and her secret apple sauce recipe. She even made her own pasta. Anna also loved to knit, not only for her family, but there are many other people who owned an “original” Anna sweater, scarf, hat, or blanket.
As the kids got older and more self-reliant, Anna began another career as a realtor at Davis R. Chant. As with anything she does, she excelled at it, not only selling properties and houses but gaining many friends working with perspective buyers.
When Anna’s husband of 32 years passed away, she focused her attention on her 9 grandchildren, spoiling each one of them rotten. They affectionally called her Nonna.
She eventually retired and moved to New Hampshire to her daughter’s home. This allowed her more time for her passions; reading novels, doing crossword puzzles, playing bridge and attending church. Years later she moved to Brookdale assisted living in Durham, NH. The staff there made her final years active and peaceful.
She is survived by her children; Sons Michael Failla and wife Laura Artino, and David Failla and his wife Donna Failla. Daughter Laura Failla Rothstein and husband James Rothstein. And her nine grandchildren, Michael, Joey, Alex, Brian, James, Sophia, Jake, Leo, and Gigi.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Anna's name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
A funeral mass will be Saturday, December 9th at noon, at St. Thomas More in Durham. Her graveside service will be in the spring in Milford, PA.
Anna was born in Torre Del Greco, a province of Naples, Italy. She was the second of 5 children. Her family was very close, and she had many, many friends. Her Father owned a successful lumbar business. There was also horror, for as a young teenager, she saw her home bombed multiple times during World War II. It was Anna’s strength that pushed her through this time, raising her younger siblings when it was too much for her mother.
Anna moved to the United States in the 1950’s. She studied in New York City, at Fordham University. She excelled in Mathematics and teaching, working for IBM for several years. She met and lived with 2 of her lifelong friends, Yvette, who came from France, and Tina from Brooklyn. The 3 women stayed as close as the 3 musketeers their whole lives. It was in New York she met her future husband, James Failla. When her first child was born, she became a stay-at-home Mom. They lived briefly in Brooklyn, Queens, and Montauk NY, before settling in Milford PA, in the late 1960’s with their 3 children.
For a city person, Anna acclimated well in Milford. She made many friends, learned to ski, and became the bridge playing shark of the town. Everyone not only loved her Italian accent, her “Annaisms” due to it became endearing. All of her children’s friends referred to her as a second mom, always letting them stay over and feeding them well. Anna had a reputation for being an incredible cook and this didn’t go unnoticed by her kids and kids’ friends. In the Fall, for a few weeks, the kitchen was off limits as Anna canned 100+ bottles of tomatoes to make her delicious sauce, along with canning peaches, pears, and her secret apple sauce recipe. She even made her own pasta. Anna also loved to knit, not only for her family, but there are many other people who owned an “original” Anna sweater, scarf, hat, or blanket.
As the kids got older and more self-reliant, Anna began another career as a realtor at Davis R. Chant. As with anything she does, she excelled at it, not only selling properties and houses but gaining many friends working with perspective buyers.
When Anna’s husband of 32 years passed away, she focused her attention on her 9 grandchildren, spoiling each one of them rotten. They affectionally called her Nonna.
She eventually retired and moved to New Hampshire to her daughter’s home. This allowed her more time for her passions; reading novels, doing crossword puzzles, playing bridge and attending church. Years later she moved to Brookdale assisted living in Durham, NH. The staff there made her final years active and peaceful.
She is survived by her children; Sons Michael Failla and wife Laura Artino, and David Failla and his wife Donna Failla. Daughter Laura Failla Rothstein and husband James Rothstein. And her nine grandchildren, Michael, Joey, Alex, Brian, James, Sophia, Jake, Leo, and Gigi.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Anna's name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or St. Thomas More Catholic Church.
A funeral mass will be Saturday, December 9th at noon, at St. Thomas More in Durham. Her graveside service will be in the spring in Milford, PA.