Anna Mae Burati

Anna Mae (O’Shea) Burati passed away on October 8, 2021 at Mercy Medical Center. Her daughter Barbara was at her side.

She was born on January 3, 1926 in Springfield, MA, the daughter of the late John T. and Regina (Crawshaw) O’Shea. A graduate of Cathedral High School, Anna Mae began her working career in the offices of Greyhound in Springfield where she met her future husband, Albert G. Burati. They were married at Our Lady of Hope Church on May 29, 1948 and were blessed with 54 years of life together. During those years, they raised two daughters, Carol and Barbara, and built a successful travel business. Anna was an integral part of the accounting side of the business in its early years and always an advisor to Al as the business grew. Later she earned her broker’s license and had a short career in real estate.

Anna Mae was a compassionate person who always saw the good in others as well as their potential to be better people. Her advice was worth heeding. Her Catholic faith was unwavering. Her love of her family was steadfast. She was an excellent cook and gracious hostess who was never afraid to try a new recipe. Her love of music was evident as she introduced her daughters to Saint Saens, Ravel, and Big Band during their childhood. She later became a frequent attendee with her daughter Barbara at the Springfield Symphony performances. She was fortunate to have traveled the world but for the past 40 years her favorite trips were to Hawai’i when she visited her daughter Carol and her husband, Mel, and her beloved grandchildren. Being able to be part of their First Communions, Confirmations and Graduations was as important to her as it was to the Mau family.

She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Longmeadow. She was an active member of the St. Mary’s Guild, the St. Jude’s Service Club, and the Springfield Garden Club.

Anna was predeceased by her husband, Albert G. Burati in 2002, and by her daughter, Carol B. Mau in 2017. In addition, her sisters, Helen (McDonald) Labroad and Frances MacKenzie predeceased her as well as very loved in-laws from the O’Shea and Burati families.

Her daughter, Barbara F. Burati, survives her as well as her son-in-law, Melvin Mau of Kaneʻohe, HI and her five grandchildren, all from Hawaiʻi: Nainoa Mau, Ka’eo Mau and his wife Kristen, Lei-Ana Mau, Kaione Mau, and Kawehionapua Mau. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Gertrude and John Wagner of Hampden, and her brother and sister-in-law, John E. and Joyce O’Shea of Greer, SC. Aunt Anna Mae is survived by many nieces, nephews, and special cousins from the O’Shea and Burati families who showered her with love, kindness, and laughs through her life. For their kindness we are forever grateful.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the caring staff at East Village Place for their kindness and care.

A wake will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 21, 2021 at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home in East Longmeadow. Funeral services will be on Friday, October 22, 2021 beginning at 9:45 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Longmeadow at 11 a.m. Committal services will be in St. Michael’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the St. Jude’s Service Club c/o St. Mary’s Church, 519 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, MA 01106, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute at www.dana-farber.org or the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/ For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.forastiere.com