Anita Dolores (Barbera) Pagano

 Anita Dolores Pagano passed away on the morning of November 23, 2019. She was born on February 9, 1925 the daughter of Francis Paulo and Anna Rose Barbera and grew up in New York City.  She graduated from Saint Thomas Aquinas High School.

Anita met Dominick Gerald Pagano after his military service and they were married on June 30, 1945.  They started their life together residing in Long Island, NY later moving to Wallingford and eventually settling in Durham, Connecticut where besides being a mom, Anita operated the family manufacturing business, which employed numerous local residents. Additionally, during her career, Anita taught sewing in the New Haven School system.

Anita and Dominick were married for 43 years before his passing in 1988.  Her parents, two brothers, Frank and Vincent Barbera and her sister, Marie Nannariello, also predeceased her.

Anita is survived by a loving family, her son, Stefan Pagano of New Haven; her son, Gerald Pagano and his wife, Karen of Delray Beach, Florida; her daughter, Francine Loveland and her husband Bill of Durham.  She is also survived by eleven grandchildren; Michael, Jill, Stefanie, William, Malisa, Michele, Jessica, Sabin, Joseph, Angela, and Chad.  In addition, twenty-nine great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Anita’s passing is a sad event to those she leaves behind, yet her family shares tremendous joy in the fact that she is with our Heavenly Father and has rejoined her husband, parents and all her relatives and friends who have previously passed.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 29 at 10:00 am at Notre Dame Church, 272 Main Street, Durham, CT.  Burial will follow at Mica Hill Cemetery.  To honor Anita’s devotion to children, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908. To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.

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