Anna Rich

Anna Rich (nee Gargano), age 100, of Wayne passed away peacefully at home on Monday, June 29, 2020 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Anna was born and raised in Clifton and was one of four children to Louis and Rose Gargano.  Being born in 1919, Anna was a member of group in our society known as “The Greatest Generation.”  People of the Greatest Generation are those who grew up during the struggling times of the Great Depression and as young adults fought in the Second World War.  Anna, like many other teenagers her age, needed to leave school at an early age and work to help support her family.  She worked for Botany Mills in Clifton as a Supervisor for about two years when the events of World War II broke out.  As many American GI’s were being shipped overseas to fight in the Second World War, Anna did her part and found employment as a Head Inspector working on Boeing B17 Flying Fortresses.  She worked alongside her sister, mostly working ten hour days and six days a week.   Anna held this position for approximately five years.

A couple of years before the onset of World War II, in 1940, Anna was out with one of her girlfriends at a “hamburger joint.”  There she met, through mutual friends, a handsome young man by the name of Frank Rich.  The two of them hit it off great and started dating.  After about two years, as fate would have it they fell in love.  In 1942 Frank got the call to serve his country in World War II.  Just before shipping out to the European Theater, Anna and Frank became husband and wife.  Frank shipped out to Europe and served proudly and honorably with the United States Army from 1942 to 1945.

After Frank was honorably discharged from the US Army and returned home, the couple settled in Clifton.  They rented space in special housing units for GI’s returning home from war, which looked very much like army barracks.  Not long after Frank’s return home, Anna and Frank welcomed their first child, Frank, Jr.  While still living in Clifton, the couple then welcomed their second child, Carol.  In 1957, as the family grew, they moved to Wayne where they would remain for the rest of their lives together.  During their first few years after moving to Wayne, Anna and Frank welcomed their third child Roseann.  Shortly after the birth of their first child, Anna made the decision to become a full-time homemaker.  This was clearly Anna’s calling and where she truly flourished.  Anna’s greatest passion was her family and nothing in the world meant more to her than spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.  She cherished fifty seven years of loving and loyal marriage until Frank’s passing in October of 1999.

Anna was a wonderful cook.  Although cooking was not her most favorite activity, Anna became quite good at it.  Anna always made sure dinner was on the table every night when Frank got home from work and that her family sat down together when dinner was served.  Sunday dinner was always at two o’clock sharp.  Saturday nights were usually spent in Totowa with sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins.  Holidays, especially Christmas, were always big family gatherings and filled with many memorable rituals and ceremonies.  Anna was not only devoted to her family but also to her Catholic faith.  She and her family were parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne for many years.  Outside of her family, one of Anna’s favorite past times was frequenting Atlantic City with her husband Frank, her sister Josephine, family and friends.  Her many trips to Atlantic City earned her recognition of family and friends for her excellent playing skills in the game of Black Jack.   Ann was a truly special person blessed with a long and fruitful life.  She touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.    

She was the loving wife of the late Frank Rich (d. 1999). Anna was the devoted mother of Frank Rich, Jr., and his wife Madelyn of Trinity, FL, Carol Rich of Wayne, and Roseann Abate and her husband George of Wayne, and Anita Carpino Godmother and dear friend of the family for over forty years. She was the cherished grandmother of Christopher (Karen), Darren (Megan), Scott (Catherine), Katelyn, Michael and Daniel. She was the loved sister of Josephine Gargano of Oakridge, and was predeceased by her siblings Fred and Violet.