Anne M. Cuzzola Cherico

Anne M. Cuzzola Cherico

Anne M. Cuzzola Cherico, age 86, of Pittsburgh, PA, died Tuesday, May 26, 2009 following an extended illness. She was born June 17, 1922 in Franklin, PA, a daughter of the late Joseph and Rose Casella Cuzzola. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart and was the Valedictorian of her graduating class.

Anne's career was an illustrious one. During the entire decade of the 1960's she served under the direction of Sister Mary at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Erie in the clinic and Emergency Room. Leaving Saint Vincent's in 1970 she became the Office Manager at Catholic Social Service's for the Catholic Diocese of Erie and served there for ten years.

In 1980 Anne took the position of Administrative Assistant to the Director of Nursing at Erie's Metro Hospital until her retirement.

After her thirty years in that work force is when she came on board with her son Greg at Anne Gregory…For the Bride in Pittsburgh. Anne's sense of style, fashion and wisdom was a comfort to many brides-to-be and their mothers who always wanted her opinions and expertise. Her keen fashion sense and love for shoes is something that many Pittsburgh brides will remember her for in the years to come. So many brides-to-be would not make their final choice without Anne's seal of approval.

Upon her diagnosis of breast cancer, which she faced with courage and conviction, she allowed a new technique to be used on her which was in the beginning stages called Sentinel Lymphatic Mapping, which pioneered the way for many women who were going to face the same disease.

Anne was preceded in death by her husband Anthony L. Cherico; two brothers, Nino and Patsy Cuzzola; and one sister, Margaret Surace. She is survived by one daughter, Marianne Sutto and her husband Tim, of Pittsburgh; four sons, Anthony J. Cherico and his wife Paulette, Greg Cherico and his partner, Brian, and Charles Cherico and his wife, Cheryl, all of Pittsburgh and David Cherico and his wife, Barbara, of Wattsburg, PA; two brothers, Angelo and Joseph Cuzzola, both of Erie, and four sisters, Nancy Cuzzola, Josephine Cuzzola, Carmie Barbato and Frannie Letterio, all of Erie. Also surviving are eight grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Donations for "Breast Cancer Awareness" may be made to "Love is the Cure", a foundation started by Bridal Gown designer, Amy Michelson, also a breast cancer survivor, c/o Amy Michelson, 3513 W. Pacific Avenue, Burbank, California 91505, or www.amymichelson.com. Memorials may also be made to Family Hospice and Palliative Care, 50 Moffett Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15243.

Friends may call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street, on Thursday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and on Friday from 11:30 a.m. until the time of service there at 12:30 p.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Paul Roman Catholic Church, 1617 Walnut Street, at 1:00 p.m. Burial will be in Mary Queen of Peace Cemetery.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Merf, Sharon and Barb, her caregivers from Family Hospice of Mt. Lebanon, for the wonderful care that was given to our mother during her illness.