Sentinel & Enterprise Fitchburg, MA
Tuesday, September 26th, 2006
Anita Emma
FITCHBURG -- Anita M. (Descoteaux) Emma, 83, of 10 Daniels Heights, Fitchburg, died Sunday, Sept. 24, in her home after a short illness. At her side were her six children and members of her family.
For many years prior to her retirement, Anita worked at the former Foster Grant and American Hoechst of Leominster. She also worked for the Fitchburg School Department as a teacher’s aide. Her main passion was spending quality time with her family and friends. She loved dancing and was always stepping to the beat. It was such a joy just to be in her company. She taught many how to dance, and until this year she never missed a high school reunion, which would have been her 65th high school reunion.
She was a member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Fitchburg and was a 1941 graduate of Leominster High School.
She was born in Leominster on March 21, 1923, a daughter of the late Oscar and Celina (Bruneau) Descoteaux and lived in this area all of her life.
She leaves three sons, Stephen J. Emma of Cumberland, R.I., Billy L. Emma of Gardner, and Paul Emma and his wife, Julie, of Leander, Texas; three daughters, Bonnie L. Picone and her husband, John, of Leominster, Denise M. Russian and her husband, Eric, of Tempe, Ariz., and Suzanne Shields and her husband, Danny, of Leominster; two brothers, Raymond Descoteaux of Fitchburg and Roland Descoteaux of Chesapeake, Va.; a sister, Lucille Wilkie of Manchester, N.H.; eight grandchildren, Justin Emma and his wife, Amy, of Fitchburg, Celina Leger and her husband, Greg, of Westminster, Candace Emma of Casa Grande, Ariz., Blake Russian of Tempe, Ariz., Joshua Bessette, currently in the U.S. Marine Corps, stationed in Okinawa, Maria Picone of Leominster, Franklin Russian of Tempe, Ariz., and Austin Emma of Leander, Texas; three great-grandchildren, Joshua Emma of Fitchburg, Lexis Emma of Fitchburg and Xavian Dean of Westminster. She also leaves her loving and devoted friend, Jane LeBlanc of Fitchburg; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Tommy Emma, in 1949.
EMMA -- On Sept. 24, Anita M. (Descoteaux) Emma, 83, of Fitchburg. A funeral will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 27, from The Smith-Mallahy-Masciarelli Funeral Home, (www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net) 243 Water St., Fitchburg, with a Mass at 9 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, 49 Woodland St., Fitchburg. Interment will be at a later date in St. Cecelia’s Cemetery, Leominster. Calling hours at the funeral home will be on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 5 to 8 p.m. Flowers may be sent or memorial contributions may be made to the HealthAlliance Burbank Hospital Campus Oncology Dept., 275 Nichols Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420, or may be left at the funeral home.