Anne Mello

An angel passed by…

The family of Anne R (Dorr) Mello of Sutton, Vermont, are announcing her unexpected, sudden, but peaceful passing on March 10, 2022.

Anne was born in Boston in 1934 and lived many of her younger years with her grandmother there.  She remained in Boston, eventually enrolling in hairdressing school when she picked up a part-time job at Filene’s.  It was during the Christmas holidays in 1955, while working there, that a handsome, dark-haired candy storeroom worker, with his unabashedly flirtatious charm, and taken by her curly hair, wooed and won Anne’s heart.  They were married on January 18, 1956, and made their home on Martha’s Vineyard, where Richard’s parents also lived.

She was a full time mother in those child-rearing years, having many roles in the community as she was doing so, such as Den Mother, PTO member, bowling league coordinator, and theater mom, along with working part time jobs to help supplement the family income.  For a time, she worked for Grace Church, as the secretary, putting out the Sunday bulletin and helping with the annual Christmas Pageant.

For eleven years, Anne and Richard owned and operated Edgartown Texaco, a successful service station, where many incredible memories were made by just about all who would go to or work there.  At the beginning of that chapter of their lives, Anne and five of her children, in a serendipitous twist of fate, were chosen to act in the movie Jaws, for the entire summer of 1974.

Their move to Vermont in 1985 brought them to their beloved home in Sutton where they enjoyed the beauty of the Northeast Kingdom. They would host her sisters and their husbands, having “Tea Time” on the deck, creating funny, loving memories and strengthening their bond.  She also cherished many happy times with family and friends.

She was active in a basket guild, creating useful baskets with her “basket buddies”, usually giving them away to her family. Anne also found a name to what she had been able to sense and feel for many years, and she became a Reiki Master.

She and Richard created a wonderful, memorable, loving story in their sixty-six years together. Anne saw her way through that story with grace, poise, determination, calm, positivity, and as much love and laughter as she could draw in.  She could also be a five foot one inch ball of fire, too!

In recent years, Anne was in the practice of texting all seven of her adult children every Saturday morning with a sunny greeting - her devotion to her family always present.

Anne is survived by her loving husband, Richard (Sutton), her seven children: Richard (Rick) and wife Sharon, of Falmouth, MA; Patricia (Patti) Valenti and husband Peter, of Edgartown, MA; Thomas (Tommy) of Vineyard Haven, MA; Sharon Patoine and husband David, of Lyndonville, VT; Lydia Mello of Sutton, VT; John and wife Carrie of Sutton, VT; Jay, of Danville, VT; and daughter-in-law Beth Mello, of Vineyard Haven, MA.  She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Frank Scheckton (her late sister Roberta’s husband) and his family of Galway, NY, and by Richard’s brother, Joseph (Joe) Mello and his wife Joni, and their family, of Homer, AK.  She is survived also by her sisters’ children, and their children, who hold Anne dear in their hearts as well.

Anne was blessed with 22 beautiful grandchildren, Rick (Bridget); Sarah (Jeff); Michael (Emilee); Brianna (Drew);  Andrew (Leslie); Ethan (Bri); Adam (Colleen); Jason; Ryan; Angela; Gabe (Katie); Jordan; Lucas; Stevie (Casey); Zach; Jacob; Chloe; Forrest; Ruby; Mikaela; Becca (John); Connor (Nicole); and 20 beautiful great grandchildren.

True to who she was, and not wanting any formalities or fuss, the spreading of her ashes will be a private family celebration of life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Anne’s name to a charity of your choice.

Condolences, memories, and stories are encouraged, to be shared through Guibord-Pearson Funeral Home www.guibordfh.com or mailed to The Mello Family 46 Fiddlehead Lane, Lyndonville, VT 05851