Maria Popolo Obituary

Maria “Anne” Popolo, originally of Brooklyn NY and most recently of Nashville, TN, passed peacefully in her sleep on April 19th, 2025 in the company of her loving son Anthony.

The third child of Antonino (1888-1965) and Maria Cataldo (Rocca, 1903-1974), Anne was a proud product of Brooklyn, NY and let everyone know it. She was educated in the NYC public schools, excelling in art and penmanship, which were both notable by anyone who saw her work or read her handwriting through her life. Anne met her future husband Nat at his social club Cheyenne in the late 1940s, and they were married on October 28th, 1950, after he returned from a tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Berlin. They settled into the third-floor apartment of the house purchased by her father on Menahan Street where they lived until 1997. She was a devout member of St. Brigid Church and was involved in all aspects of the parish operations, volunteering her time for all events and fund-raisers.

Once the kids were in school, she attended Baruch College in Manhattan where she received her associate’s degree and then went on to a fulfilling career as a school administrator and payroll secretary for over 20 years at Bushwick High School in Brooklyn. After retirement, and like many in NYC, they moved out to “the Island” in 1997, living in Ridge, NY until they moved to Morningside of Belmont, an assisted living facility in Nashville, TN in 2020 across the street from their son Anthony who lovingly attended to them during their final years together. Her great passion for knitting was a source of meditation for her throughout her life, and her proficiency with difficult pieces was well known. If she knew of a pregnant woman in her circles, she was quick to knit a baby sweater which to this day have become heirlooms for many people in the U.S. and Europe.

Anne leaves her three children, Carl and Joan Popolo of Carlisle, MA, Carole van Almelo and her husband Doug of New York City, and Anthony Popolo and his partner Cara Schneider of Nashville, TN for whom we are especially grateful, along with four beloved grandchildren Elizabeth Popolo of Williamsburg, MA, Alex van Almelo of San Diego, CA, Meredith Popolo of Stockholm, Sweden, and Nick van Almelo of Chicago, IL. Anne was too proud of her children and absolutely adored her grandchildren, frequently matching all of their stories with escapades of her own. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews in the Cataldo, Manno, and Popolo families and was particularly close to her nephew Roy (and Barbara) Manno of Hauppauge, NY who was vital to her well-being during their years in Ridge.

The family would like to recognize the love and support of the staff of Belmont Village Senior Living and Morningside of Belmont for their devoted care and personal attention. There will be a celebration of life in Anne and Nat’s honor in New York City at St. Brigid’s church, 409 Linden Street, Brooklyn NY, on September 6th at 9:45 am.