Anne Marie (Cannistraro) Marsh

Anne Marie (Cannistraro) Marsh, age 93, of Sudbury, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 5, 2023.  She was the loving wife of the late Robert Joseph Marsh.

Anne was born in Waltham, Massachusetts, on July 20, 1930, daughter of the late Michael A. and Anna (Parlato) Cannistraro. Anne’s mother, Anna, sadly died in childbirth and never met her daughter. Anne’s father remarried and he and his new wife, Rosa, raised Anne together. She was raised and educated in Waltham, graduating from St. Charles High School, class of 1948.  Anne met her future husband, Bob, in February of 1953, and married on November 11 of that year. They settled in Sudbury in September of 1956 to raise their growing family together. 

Anne studied fashion merchandising at Northeastern University and started her career at Touraine’s in the 1950’s -1960’s. She also worked for Sears Roebuck, and West End Chevrolet, in Waltham, MA. After raising her family, she returned to her passion working in retail sales for Johnny Appleseed’s in Concord, MA for 18 years. Many customers relied on Anne for her fashion expertise, and frequently sought her out for shopping recommendations.

Faith and family were most important to Anne. Anne and Bob were founding parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Sudbury. Anne was very involved in parish life – attending daily Mass, volunteering in the women’s guild, and assisting with church dinners and bazaars. Her deep faith and generous heart touched everyone she met. She enjoyed reading, particularly fictional stories with an ocean theme, and cookbooks.  She had a great love for the ocean and cherished her summers spent in Scituate, Hull, Cape Cod, the North Shore, and the Maine seacoast, with family and friends. Anne was a great cook. Being of Sicilian decent, she took great pride in her original Italian dishes, particularly her famous sauce.

Anne is survived by her children, Marylee A. Marsh of Sudbury, MA, Robert J. Marsh Jr. of Sudbury MA, John F. Marsh of Sudbury, MA, Elizabeth A. (Marsh) McDonald, and husband, Kevin of Framingham, MA, and her cherished grandchildren, Shannon McDonald Tucker (Daren), Matthew McDonald (Ntanga), Timothy McDonald (Maddie), Colleen McDonald, and Bridget McDonald; her siblings Marie Bean of Dover, NH, and Clara Beal of Newton, MA, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Dominic Cannistraro. Anne was anxiously awaiting the birth of her first three great grandchildren, expected to arrive in the coming weeks. We believe she has met them already.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Anne on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima, 160 Concord Road, Sudbury, MA. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. after the visitation. Burial will follow at New North Cemetery, 134 Pantry Road, Sudbury, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic TV at www.catholictv.org, or Cedar Wood Foundation – www.cedarwoodfoundation.org.