Annette LaFiandra Camilleri was born in Brooklyn on May 19th, 1943, the daughter of Philip LaFiandra and Santina Alongi. In 1958 she and her family moved to Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
After graduating from High School she attended the College of Mount Saint Vincent in Riverdale from which she graduated with a BA in 1965. She then taught Elementary School in Paramus, New Jersey.
In 1968 Annette married Leslie Camilleri and in 1969 they moved to Europe as his career as a physicist took him back to England for three years and then to Geneva, Switzerland for another 35 years. During this time they had two children, Vanessa Miller Camilleri in 1973 and Robert Camilleri in 1979.
While in Europe Annette taught at an Elementary School, tutored autistic children and taught English as a foreign language and English conversation.
Wherever Annette lived she endeavored to be part of the community and was always able to find activities and hobbies that she enjoyed. She was fascinated by, and collected, antique porcelain dolls and christening gowns. Throughout the years she exhibited her collections and made several presentations.
She loved her two Golden Retrievers, Paprika and Asti. She bred Paprika who gave birth to eight puppies. She, together with Asti, took a pet therapy course in Geneva and when they graduated they visited nearby retirement homes for the benefit of their residents.
In 2007 Annette and her husband returned to the United States upon her husband’s retirement from his job in Geneva. They wanted to be near their children who had both settled in the US, and near their grand children Samuel and Sebastian of Silver Spring, Maryland. They settled in Sleepy Hollow, New York where, once again, Annette felt very much at home in her new surroundings and participated in community activities such as the Fortnightly, the Sleepy Hollow Gardening Club and the Dobbs Ferry Women’s Club. She also loved swimming in the Hudson at the Philipse Manor Beach Club.
Annette contracted COVID-19 in March, and, as much as a fighter as she was, she finally succumbed to this insidious virus. She was devoted to and is survived by her husband, children and grandchildren and will be greatly missed.
In memory of Annette, if you wish, please consider contributing to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
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