Antonina Asaro

Antonina (Annie) Asaro, 105 ESCONDIDO -- Annie Asaro passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2011, just 13 days from celebrating her 106th birthday. She was born December 5, 1905 in Huntsville, Texas, daughter of Antonina and Andrew Giuffre. She passed away in her sleep with family by her side. When Annie was five months old, her family moved to San Antonio, Texas where her father owned and operated a shoe repair shop while her mother ran a grocery store. They moved to Escondido in 1922 when Annie was 17 years old. Annie met Nicolo Asaro from San Diego and they were married in October 1926 and they had two children. Nick passed away in 1987 after 61 years of marriage. They decorated their house at 5th and Kalmia St., at Christmas time for 17 years until Nick became sick. The guestbooks show that thousands came to view their display each year. They were given a trophy for a decorating contest in 1973. Annie made the costumes for the displays. She had many friends and belonged to several clubs: Rebecca's Lodge, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Eagles Auxiliary, and the Grandmother's Club of Escondido which has had three generations of Annie's family. She collected for the "March of Dimes," and won a trophy for selling the most poppies for the VFW organization. Annie worked from 17 years of age to 65 at all of the packing houses in Escondido packing tomatoes, avocados, oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes. She retired to take care of her ailing mother who lived to be 100 and six months, and later take care of her ailing husband who died from cancer at the age of 87. Annie moved in with her daughter and son-in- law in 1998 and remained in Escondido. She loved to play Bingo and go to Las Vegas, and after the casinos opened near Escondido, she played blackjack and was quite well-known at the local casinos. Annie is survived by her son, Frank (Lucille) Asaro of El Cerrito, Calif.; daughter, Marie (Jack) Scudder of Escondido; grandchildren, Frank Asaro of Escondido, Antonina "Nina" (Butch) Smith of Modesto, Calif., Catherine Asaro (John) Cannizzo of Maryland, Marianna (Gary) Lee of Beaumont, Calif., John (Kara) Scudder of Temecula, Calif., and Joseph (Janessa Garcia) Scudder of Orange, Calif. She has four great- grandchildren. Annie was cherished by her family and leaves a lasting impression on all who knew her. A viewing will be held between 5 and 8 p.m., Thursday, December 1, at Funeraria Del Angel McLeod Mortuary in Escondido. Services will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, December 2, also at Funeraria Del Angel McLeod Mortuary, followed by interment at Oak Hill Cemetery in Escondido. Donations may be made to the Escondido Grandmother's Club, in care of the Treasurer, Marilyn Porretta, 1230 W. 13th Ave., Escondido, Calif. 92025. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com