Nan was born May 21, 1917 in Philadelphia PA to Italian immigrants Luigi Grimaldi and Leticia Citro Grimaldi. From childhood and throughout her life, Anna had a great love of music and dance. Her beautiful soprano voice won her leading roles in musical productions in her school and in community performances.
After graduating high school in Philadelphia, Nan attended beauty school before marrying Henry William Stevens (Bill) at the age of 18. The loving couple raised three sons; Louis, Alex and Henry. She and Bill moved from Philadelphia with their young sons in November 1944, packing up and driving down to Dade City, FL. They owned and operated the Dade City Creamery for two years, prior to moving and settling in West Palm Beach.
In 1955 Anna and her husband purchased land west of the city and with their sons began what would become a thriving business. The Stevens Company processed tropical fruit juices, most notably Stevens Papaya Nectar “from seed to juice”, a product sold in all major supermarkets in Florida for decades. The company also manufactured Fountain Syrups and became the area’s leading distributor of Coca-Cola Fountain Syrup products and a large line of Foodservice Paper Goods.
After Bill passed away in 1978, Nan continued to work alongside her sons at Stevens Co. She married Raymond Cascarino in 1979. They were happily married for eighteen years until his passing in 1998. Nan eventually retired in 2007, living with her son Henry and daughter-in-law Maureen until
suffering a stroke in August 2013. With much strength and prayer she continued on with grace until her death.
Nan was known for so many wonderful things. She was devoted to her faith and attended St. Juliana parish from its beginning. She was an astute business woman who understood the importance of quality and good customer service. She loved to play cards and was always crocheting something cozy for someone. Her dedication to the family was truly unsurpassed. Holidays at Nan’s house are memories we all share, thanks to her boundless energy and enthusiasm, and of course her love of cooking and entertaining, “the more, the merrier”. Her legacy is tremendous. To put down into mere words who Nan was seems insufficient, for she was so much more to each and every one of us than any words could convey. It was truly an honor to be part of her life.
Nan is survived by her three sons; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Regina and Rose; brother, Vincent; numerous nieces and nephews, and many, many friends.
A viewing will be held from 4 PM until 6 PM on Sunday, April 27th at the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM on Monday, April 28th at St. Juliana Catholic Church, 4500 S. Dixie Highwway, West Palm Beach, FL. Mrs. Cascarino will be laid to rest following her funeral Mass at Lake Worth Memory Gardens. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Dorsey-E. Earl Smith Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 3041 Kirk Road, Lake Worth, FL 33461.
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