Anna May Schiro

Cottage Grove — Anna Schiro, long-time resident of the Madison area, died Monday, March 21, 2016, at 94 years of age after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born January 24, 1922 to Michael and May Emordeno, Anna grew up in Madison's Greenbush neighborhood and celebrated both her Italian and Irish heritage. Anna worked from a young age and graduated from West High School. In 1941, she married Vito Schiro at St. Joe's Church. Anna worked at Yost on State Street for many years, delighting her coworkers and customers alike until her retirement at the age of 72. Anna was a wonderful, caring sister, wife, mother and grandmother, and she showed the same love to all as her family expanded over the decades. Those that knew her loved her for her sense of humor, her quick wit and her sharp tongue. She welcomed all into her home with a smile, a laugh and a steadfast determination to see that they left fed to bursting. As a point of pride, those many guests over the years always found Anna's home as immaculately polished as her personal appearance. Anna enjoyed lobster, chocolate, dancing and music, but she loved nothing more than sharing a beer and a conversation with those close to her. Over her nine decades of life, Anna proved herself rare in her ability to effortlessly connect with people of different generations. In perhaps the greatest tribute to her character, Anna's sense of humor continued to shine through all the way to the end, even as Alzheimer's disease took its heavy toll. Anna is survived by her son, Mike Schiro (Nancy), sisters, Lorraine Sponholtz and Jennilea Peeters (Jacques), and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews who brought her tremendous joy. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, Vito Schiro, brother, Phil "Brother" Emordeno, daughter, Angie Noyce (Rod), dear friend and cousin, Theresa Hare and many special friends and relatives. The family would like to offer special thanks to the Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin for their invaluable resources, Aster Assisted Living for years of above-and-beyond care and Home Health United for making her last days as comfortable as possible. A visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at Gunderson Funeral Home, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to the Alzheimer's & Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation 5203 Monona Dr. (608)221-5320