Most obituaries are written with warmth and tenderness, in an effort to honor the passing of a loved one. Families use the memorial as a way to reflect on the life of the person they have lost, reconciling their grief and coming to terms with a painful passing. Alternatively, they can be used to settle some family scores!
An obituary that appeared in the Tampa Tribune on Valentine's Day was obviously meant to do just that. The memorial to Josie Anello at first appeared just like any other, mentioning her name and age, and how she was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Vic Anello. At this point, the obituary takes a major detour into darker terrain.
The memorial continues: "She is survived by her Son, 'AJ', who loved and cared for her; Daughter 'Ninfa', who betrayed her trust, and Son 'Peter', who broke her heart." Hmmm...I wonder which one of the children wrote the obit?
Daughter Ninfa placed her own obituary honoring her mother in the paper the following day, minus any references to betrayals of trust or breaking of hearts. What is the cause of the animosity? Money (but of course). Basically, it boils down to the fact that Angelo (AJ), 63, and his sister, Ninfa Simpson, 65, accuse each other of stealing from their mother. Angelo says his sister used their mother's Social Security checks to go on vacation with her husband (to such destinations as Branson, Missouri, and Alaska). Ninfa says her brother maxed out their mother's credit cards and chipped away at her life savings. Both insist that the other's allegations are untrue.
One member of the family who doesn't have much to say about the ruckus is brother Peter, who has been estranged from the family for over 25 years. I'm beginning to see why...
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