Anna Marie (Difranco) Nelson

WORCESTER – Anna Marie (DiFranco) Nelson, age 64, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at UMass Memorial Healthcare-Memorial Campus, Worcester. She was born in Worcester, the daughter of Rocco Imbrogna and Ann Maria (Vaughan) DiFranco.

Anna went to North High School in Worcester and worked a few years at the Big Y in Worcester as a grocery receiver before starting her own cleaning business, M & N Cleaning, which she ran successfully for over 30 years.

In her spare time, she enjoyed her vacations to Bar Harbor and Kennebunk, ME, as well as North Conway, NH. Every few years, Anna and her sisters would travel out west on many unforgettable trips to many different destinations. She cherished spending time with her two nieces, Taylor and Breana Joubert, going out for lunch and shopping, and taking different day trips. She especially loved going hiking with Breana who was the only one really allowed to photograph her. Anna was also a teacher of faith, teaching religious education for years at both St. Mary’s Church in Jefferson and St. Columba Parish in Paxton. She loved traveling to Arizona to visit and ride her horse, Miranda.

Anna is survived by her husband, Dennis M. Nelson; a son, Steve Novia of Winthrop; a daughter, Tammi Novia of Jefferson; a stepson, Michael Nelson and his wife, Danielle of Warwick, RI; a stepdaughter, Angelica Price and her husband, Tom of Rutland; three brothers, William Avedisian and his wife, Sharon of Aron Park, FL, Milton Avedisian of Avon Park, FL, Leonard LaRoche and his wife, Gina of Warwick, RI; three sisters, Peggy Hakenson and her husband, Bob of Agoura Hills, CA, Alice Mariano and her husband, John of Phoenix, AZ, Yvonne Pardo and her husband, Bill of Wilmington, NC; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Anna is predeceased by her sister, Beverly Sanderson.

Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 9th at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 am the following day, Thursday February 10th at St. Patrick’s Church, 258 Main St., Rutland. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her memory may be made to St. Patrick’s Parish Mission Society, 9 Pommogussett Rd., Rutland, MA 01543.