Shrewsbury – Anna M. (Bianchi) Anderson Lehman, 97, a longtime Shrewsbury resident, died peacefully Thursday, May 9, 2013 at the Oakdale Nursing and Rehab Center, West Boylston.
Anna was born in Brebbia, Varese, Italy, daughter of the late Paul and Angelica (Piorini) Bianchi. When she was 5 years old, Anna immigrated to the United States with her parents and had been a Shrewsbury resident for the past 92 years. She graduated from the Major Beal High School in Shrewsbury in 1933.
Anna worked for many years at the former Spag's Supply in Shrewsbury. When she began working at Spag's, she was the first female employee of Anthony “Spag” Borgatti at the store. Following her retirement after 45 years, she remained very close to the family through the years.
Anna had a great love of Shrewsbury and was a longtime member of Saint Anne's Parish, where she volunteered at their food bank. She also volunteered as a nurses” aide during World War II, and at the Shrewsbury Nursing Home. One of her favorite activities was visiting the Shrewsbury Senior Center and seeing all her friends there. Travelling was also an activity Anna enjoyed, and she visited sites throughout the U.S., Hawaii and Europe. Anna truly enjoyed her long life.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Glen Anderson, in 1969, and by her second husband, Robert Lehman, in 1997. She was also predeceased by her brother, Ernest Bianchi, in 2009.
Anna leaves her four step-children, Robert Lehman and his wife Kathy of West Boylston, Darleen Lehman and her partner David Coffey of West Boylston, Gail Springfield and her husband Alfred of Hubbardston, and Carol Fleming and her husband James of Rhode Island, and her five nieces and nephews, Patricia Doyle of Shrewsbury, Paul Bianchi and his wife Maria of Shrewsbury, Glen, Joan and Nancy Anderson, all of New Britain, CT.
The family would like to thank everyone at Shrewsbury Crossing for all their kindness over the past 2-? years that Anna had been a resident there.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours Tuesday, May 14, from 4 to 7 p.m., in the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury. Her funeral will be held Wednesday, May 15, from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. in Saint Anne's Church, 130 Boston Tpke. (Route 9), Shrewsbury. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.
Instead of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Saint Anne's Human Services, 130 Boston Tpke., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
To leave a message of condolence for the family or view the Book of Memories, please visit www.brittonfuneralhomes.com.
