Angela Puccia Orsini - Obituary

ngela Puccia Orsini, 92, Edgewater, MD, passed away two days after hip replacement surgery, on Saturday, July 26, 2025, listening to Pavarotti, daughters by her side. The daughter of Sicilian immigrants, Angela was born on May 21, 1933, in the North End of Boston, little Italy. She and her parents, 3 siblings, and her nonna, lived in a small apartment, where they enjoyed a close-knit community of friends and extended family. Angela treasured her memories of Italian Christmases and Sunday dinners of homemade pasta and “gravy”. She was fiercely proud of her Italian heritage. In addition to her parents, Philip and Anna Puccia, she was predeceased by her sisters and brothers-in-law: Phyllis Bocchino (Bookie) and Josephine Pantano (Paul). Angela adored and is survived by her daughters, Nina Orsini (ex-husband Steve Joyce), NickiAnn LaBriola (Tom), as well as her grandchildren Kristen Joyce Luria (Jake), Kara Joyce (Ripley), Michael LaBriola (Brooke) and Tommy LaBriola (Stephani). For the past year, her life was filled with additional joy from her great granddaughter, Madelynn Rose LaBriola. Angela is also survived by her beloved brother, Philip, and sister-in-law, Arleen, and countless nieces and nephews, on both the Puccia and Orsini sides. Angela graduated from Girls’ High School in 1950. She took some college business classes but then went to work as a secretary and loved it. She met her future husband, Nick Orsini, a Captain in the US Air Force, at an Officer’s Club dance in 1958. They were married in 1959 at St. Leonard’s Catholic Church in Boston, where the entire Puccia family and extended family attended Sunday Mass. They moved immediately to Modesto, CA and Angela got pregnant with Nina, who was born in April 1960. Angela was so homesick, missing Boston, her family, and their Italian feasts! She was thrilled when they were invited to a neighbor’s home for a spaghetti dinner but was horrified to discover the well-intentioned woman put hot dogs in the sauce! They moved to Alexandria VA and NickiAnn was born in June 1962. Angela was the quintessential military wife. She was a devoted, stay-at-home mom, as they moved from California to Virginia to Fort Devens, MA to Oslo, Norway, to Hanscom Field AFB in Bedford, MA, and finally settled in Annandale, VA in 1972. She belonged to Officers’ Wives Clubs and hosted luncheons for wives arriving at new locations. She was poised, well-dressed, stylish (known for her hats!), articulate, eloquent, and friendly. Angela enjoyed dramatics and belonged to a drama club in High School and Toastmasters later in life. She was a devout Catholic and was a regular lector at Holy Family Catholic Church, which was very important to her. She loved to cook and feed people, and her family always looked forward to the 7-course Christmas feast, including her homemade fettucine and biscotti. Her favorite color was red and she loved glitzy clothes! And she had a strong grip that would surprise everyone who shook her hand. Angela and Nick divorced in 1976 and over time, enjoyed a better relationship as friends. Angela moved to Edgewater MD in 2000. She was a helper by nature and spent much of her free time helping her daughters and babysitting. She adored her grandchildren and being called “Grammie” by them and their friends. She was an executive secretary for a partner at Coopers and Lybrand, a big-8 accounting firm, and then worked into her mid-70s as an administrative assistant at McDermott, Will and Emery law firm. Both were located in Washington D.C., and she made many ‘bus friends’ on her commute. She also has red-hat friends, neighborhood friends, book club friends, church friends, and being an extrovert, grocery store friends - the meat cutter, the deli clerk, the produce manager, and the general manager. She kept her friends and family laughing, and she so enjoyed conversation over a glass of Prosecco or Pinot Grigio. Angela overflowed with love and pride for her daughters, grandchildren, and great granddaughter. If you would like to honor Angela’s memory in the form of a donation, she herself donated to Holy Family Catholic Church and Saint Leonard Church Boston and Wounded Warrior Project The family encourages guests to wear Angela’s favorite color, red, in her honor! Calling hours will take place Monday, August 11 from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd, Edgewater MD. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Ave, Davidsonville MD on Tuesday August 12 at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at St. James Parish Cemetery in Lothian MD. In addition, the Mass will be live streamed and can be accessed by clicking Here If you cannot watch live, it will be recorded and can be accessed at the same location. Online condolences can be made by going to the Memories tab on this page.