Anne P. Ratta (nee Grasso) passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones in West Palm Beach, Florida, on August 25, 2024 at the age of 94. Anne was the heart of our home and family. She raised two children, Lynda Wlazlowski (Thomas) and Carolyn Nephew (William) in a happy and loving home. Anne was married for 38 years to Anthony (Tony) who preceded her in death. As "grandma" to Amanda Cairo and "Nanny" to Julia and Elise Nephew, she embraced her role as grandparent with grace, bringing warmth and love to her granddaughter's lives, with an emphasis on faith and family.
Besides her husband, she was pre-deceased by her brother Charles and loving sisters Rose Pugliese and Mary Scharninghausen. She also leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews.
Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Anne would tell you what a special and unique person she was. She was kind and gentle, yet strong and brave, living on her own until the end. If you had to describe her in one word, that would be "Lady" as she personified the word, always stressing manners and propriety. She loved fashion and made sure that her outfits were always color coordinated, down to her earrings, shoes and purse. It is rumored that she once ironed a bathing suit!
Anne lived life on her own terms. She loved the holidays and all the joy and tradition that they entailed, making sure that they were truly special for her family. She also loved animals and had several dogs and a cat during her lifetime. But most of all, she loved her family and enjoyed time with them the most. She was truly one-of-a-kind and will be forever missed.
The youngest of four children born to the late Angelo and Maria Grasso, Anne grew up in Montclair, NJ, and graduated from Montclair High School. She went on to study at Catherine Gibbs secretarial school and worked at Bamberger's and The United Mine Workers until she became a full-time mother in 1961.
After marriage, Anne relocated to Kearny, NJ. It was there that she and Tony settled down and raised their family and operated Ratta Hardware. She enjoyed volunteering at school events and the St. Cecilia library. Once their children were in their teens, she went back to work at Franklin Plastics in Kearny in the accounts receivable department. She worked there until she retired in the mid-1980s. Anne moved back to Montclair, NJ in 2000 and lived there until she moved to Lake Worth, FL in 2015.


Visitation will be on Tuesday, September 3rd at Caggiano Memorial, 62 Grove Street, Montclair, NJ, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. A Funeral mass will be held 10: 00 am on Wednesday, September 4th at Immaculate Conception Church in Montclair. Burial will immediately follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.