Anita Lanzoni

CHESHIRE- Anita V. Lanzoni, 94, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at her home. She was the loving wife of William F. “Bill” Lanzoni, who passed on May 30th of this year. Anita and Bill were married for just shy of 70 years, and were Cheshire residents since 1953.

The daughter of the late Nicholas and Josephine (DePoto) Vegliante, Anita was born August 6, 1922 in New Haven. She was a graduate of Hamden High School and the University of Pennsylvania.

In earlier years, she served as President the Cheshire Junior Women’s Club and was an officer in the Cheshire Women’s Club. After raising her three children, she entered the work force in her chosen occupation of dental hygienist for the Meriden School System, where she worked for many years prior to her retirement.

Anita loved competition of all types. She was proficient at golf and bowling, but her true passion in life was the game of bridge. She was a renowned tournament player, having attained the rare distinction of Ruby Life Master awarded by the American Contract Bridge League for her consistent outstanding tournament play at the highest of levels. When she wasn’t playing “duplicate” bridge in Meriden or Waterbury, she was found playing with friends at The Farms CC or teaching the game at the Park and Rec. Her skills never waned with age, as was evidenced by her stunning victory in a major local tournament mere days before her passing.

Anita loved to travel, she loved to dance, and she loved to socialize, the latter two activities primarily carried out at The Farms CC, where she and Bill were members for the last 42 years. But what she loved the most was her family. She is survived by her three sons and their wives, Craig and Nancy Lanzoni of Old Greenwich; Dennis and Michele Lanzoni of Wallingford; and Keith and Tina Lanzoni of Annapolis, MD; and five wonderful grandchildren: William, Benjamin, Chelsea, Gabrielle, and Garrett. Anita is also survived by her sister Corinne Cheeseman of Branford, her sister Joan Panico of Branford, and her brother Nicholas Vegliante of East Haven; and was predeceased by her brother Neal Vegliante.

Arrangements- Calling hours will be at Alderson-Ford Funeral Home, 615 South Main Street, Cheshire on Friday, September 2, 2016 between the hours of 4:00 and 7:00 pm. Anita’s funeral will start 9:15 am Saturday, September 3, 2016 from The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home and proceed to St. Thomas Becket Church, 435 North Brooksvale Rd, Cheshire, CT 06410 for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am. Burial will follow in St. Bridget Cemetery. Donations in Anita’s name may be made to The American Cancer Society.