Anita Sansone Coffey

Anita Coffey of Arlington, Va. died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Sunday, August 3, 2014. She was 80 years old. The daughter of Josephine and Dominic Sansone, Anita was born on February 8, 1934, in Hartford, Conn. and grew up in Unionville. Anita graduated from Farmington (Conn.) High School in 1952. Upon graduation, Anita went to work for the Hartford Times as a secretary where she met James Coffey, the man she would marry. Anita and Jim wed in 1957 in Simsbury Conn. where they lived until 1965 when Jim’s career moved their family to Arlington, Va. Family was Anita’s passion and delight. In addition to raising her four children, Anita enjoyed working for 28 years at the Center for Naval Analysis. She was a devout Catholic and a parishioner of St. Agnes Catholic Church. Anita was preceded in death by Jim, her husband of 55 years. She is survived by her children: James, Jr. (Elizabeth) of Fairfax, Va.; Daniel of Charlotte, N.C.; Joanne Hannafin (Nemo) of Fairfax, Va.; Michael (Catherine) of Fredericksburg, Va.; ten grandchildren and her brothers Jack, Ed and Jim Sansone, of Connecticut, as well as numerous other loving relatives. Friends may call upon the family on Thursday, August 7th from 2:00-4:00 PM or 6:00-8:00 PM at Murphy’s Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad St., Falls Church, Va. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, August 8th at 10:30 AM at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 1910 North Randolph St., Arlington, Va. Interment will follow at Columbia Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it was Anita’s wish that memorial contributions be made to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation at www.rettsyndrome.org or mailed to 4600 Devitt Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45246, in honor of Anita’s beloved granddaughter, Claire, who suffers from Rett Syndrome. Arrangements under the direction of Murphy Funeral Homes, Arlington, VA.