Published in the May 21, 2019 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Annie Belle (Taylor) Benedetto, 99, a long-time resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully, at Sunrise Assisted Living of Lynnfield, on May 17, 2019.
Annie Belle was born in New London, N.C. on October 3, 1919. She was the cherished daughter of the late Cicero and Rosa Belle Taylor, and sister to the late Alvin, Joe, Raymond, and Norman Taylor. At age 18 she traveled to Wakefield to visit family and never left. She was the loving wife of the late George A. Benedetto, who predeceased her in 1974.
Annie Belle loved music, dancing, and singing in the church choir. It was through dancing that she fell in love with George Benedetto, a handsome cousin of her sister-in-law Grace Taylor. They married in 1941 and welcomed four daughters.
Annie Belle was first and foremost a devoted wife and mother. In later years she worked as a teacher’s aide in the Wakefield Public Schools. She loved creative arts of any kind, and always had a project at hand, whether it was painting, weaving, quilting, or wood carving. She sang in the choir for many years at First Baptist Church in Wakefield and was a life member of the Wakefield Arts and Crafts Society.
Annie Belle is survived by two daughters, Judy A. Morrison of Sebastopol, Calif., and Georgia B. Pane and husband Donald of Wilmington. She was also the loving mother of the late Janie Rose Benedetto and the late Betty Lee Rauseo. She was the most cherished and revered grandmother of Paul, Frank, David, Chris, Jenny, and Rebecca. She also is survived by three great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Annie Belle will be remembered for her kindness, her Taylor sense of humor, and her way of making all feel welcome in her home. She loved company, family gatherings, and was often heard to exclaim, “What a party!”
A memorial service will be held at First Parish Congregational Church Chapel, 1 Church Street, Wakefield, on Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m.
Arrangements in the care of McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.
