Annalese Anselmo

Annalese Anselmo went to be with the Lord on June 25, 2009. She was born in Walker, Mo., on May 13, 1920 to Golvan and Mary Francis Cherry Shearer and had two siblings, Robert Cherry Shearer of Nevada, and Mary Louise Shearer Smith of Long Beach, Calif.

As a girl, she lived on a ranch in Walker, Missouri. During the Depression, the family harvested oak from the property, using an on-site sawmill. Like many of her generation, she went to California in the late 1930s.

Ann worked in the banking and food service areas of the local Southern California horse racing tracks, and it was at Santa Anita Park where she met Joseph John Anselmo, the love of her life. They were married on Dec. 14, 1949, and together, reared two sons, Theodore David "Ted" Marder and Robert Michael "Mike" Anselmo. They opened Norwalk's own Taco Joe's restaurant in 1957, and it still stands today, serving up the same recipes they created.

A long-time Norwalk and La Mirada resident, Ann loved the Lord and attended First Christian Church in Norwalk. She was active in her weekly Bible study and also attended weekly Topps meetings. She was a great entertainer -- using her crystal and silver for even simple gatherings, just to make her guests feel special. She made the best pasta sauce in the world, could wrap a gift like no other, and was known for her beautiful crochet work.

Annalese was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband, Joe, and son, Mike. She is survived by her son, Ted; grandchildren, Kate, David, Lisa, Candace, Heather, Michelyn, Jennifer and Gary; 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

A private, graveside service was held at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, Calif., on July 11, 2009.