Vanda Orsini

Vanda Rosa Foglietta Orsini, 97, of Triangle, Virginia passed away on the morning of June 17,2025. An immigrant who came from rural Italy to give her family a better life in America, she is remembered as resilient, faithful, hardworking, and kind.
Vanda rose up from humble beginnings in the town of Roccagorga in Latina, Italy. She was born the sixth child of Evangelista and Loreta Foglietta on August 10, 1927. She had an uncommon gift for numbers and her mind was sharp through to the end. At an early age, Vanda pursued a sartorial vocation, which she mastered and used her entire life. She endured the turmoil of World War II, then married Lidano Orsini at age 18 when it ended. Her son, Gino, was born in1948, followed by Enzo in 1954. In 1956, the couple made the life-changing decision to immigrate to America. The voyage took 12 days by boat.
The family settled in Little Falls, New York, where Vanda worked days at a dress shop factory and Lidano worked nights at Univac plant. Vanda's sartorial talent was soon recognized and she was promoted to floor manager, directing all production. Thrifty and forward-thinking from a young age, Vanda invested her extra income in real estate properties.
In 1989, seven years after Lidano's death, Vanda married John Restante, a widower she met at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The couple moved to Virginia to be nearer to Vanda's sons and their families and lived there together until John's death in 2009. During her time in Virginia, Vanda continued to invest in real estate and ultimately took an active role in managing her properties. She was a devout member of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, where she attended mass daily until she stopped driving. She was a Renaissance woman who could just as easily cook mouthwatering Italian delicacies as she could choose shrewd business investments. She was generous with her time, her talents, her charity, and best of all: her stories.
Vanda is survived by her son Gino and his wife Jeanne, her son Enzo and his wife Donna, five granddaughters, and five great grandchildren.
A Mass, celebrating her life will be held on July 10, 2025 beginning at 11:00 AM--- Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Triangle, Virginia. Interment will follow at the Dumfries Cemetery.
Contributions may be made in Vanda's memory to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF) at 1-888-662-8527. (https://www.macular.org/)