Anne Marie Uva (LaVoie)'s Obituary
Anne Marie Uva (LaVoie), 83, of Wrentham, MA, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2025, surrounded by her family.
Anne was born, fittingly, on All Saints Day, November 1, 1941, in Hartford, CT, and grew up in Watertown, MA. She was the daughter of Rene and Ruth LaVoie.
Anne graduated from Watertown High School and then went on to Boston College, to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature. While at BC, Anne met the love of her life, Samuel Uva. The two married on August 24,1968 and moved to Syracuse, NY where they created a beautiful life. They were married 28 years, before Sam’s sudden passing in 1997.
After jobs at Catholic Charities and Maria Regina College, Anne began her longtime association with the Christian Brothers. From 1977 - 1986, Anne taught Art and Art Appreciation to students at Christian Brothers Academy (CBA). She also taught art to Lasallian novices who were studying to become Christian Brothers. She and Sam both taught at CBA, truly dedicating their family and their lives to a path of Catholic education and service.
Anne’s faith was always central to her life. In their early Syracuse days, she and Sam were active members of Blessed Sacrament parish as singers in the Folk Group. Then at St. Daniel’s, they were both eucharistic ministers and lectors. Anne also used her many talents to create countless fabric banners to display at St. Daniel’s liturgies.
In 1986, Anne left her teaching role for a position as Director of Religious Education at St. Daniel’s. Always seeking more ways to serve her community, she earned a Certificate in Pastoral Counseling in 1991. The following year she returned to CBA as their first Campus Minister. She remained in that role until her retirement in 2000.
In retirement, Anne continued her many creative endeavors like drawing, painting, and gardening. She was also an accomplished quiltmaker, weaver, and maker of handmade books. She was always taking art classes and sketching and journaling her daily life. She loved to read, travel, and visit her children and grandkids. Special places for family reunions were Cape Cod during the summer and the Finger Lakes Region in the winter.
Anne had a special appreciation for Japanese culture, as she had studied there during a college summer at Sophia University in Tokyo. She returned to Japan in 1996 with the Rotary Club of Syracuse for a five-week student-exchange program for adults. She had a longtime pen pal from Tokyo and several Woodblock prints throughout her home.
For Anne’s last 20 years in Syracuse, before moving to the Boston area in 2017, her parish community was St. Lucy’s. Throughout her life, she volunteered her time and talents at many different places, including various food pantries, senior centers, refugee resettlement centers, and the Syracuse Rose Society.
Anne is lovingly remembered by her 3 children: Michael, Monet, and Elizabeth, their spouses: Danielle, Nadir, and Mike, 4 grandkids: Sam, Sophia, Theo, and Natalie, sister-in-law: Lucia, nephew: Paolo, 2 brothers: John and Joe, their wives: Aunt Mary and Aunt Debby, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and countless faithful friends.
Anne is predeceased by her husband: Sam, parents: Ruth and Rene, and brothers: Tom and Vic.
A funeral Mass will be held at 9:00am on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the Panasci Family Chapel at Le Moyne College, 1419 Salt Springs Road, Syracuse. A committal service will be immediately after the funeral at Woodlawn Cemetery Mausoleum. A luncheon will follow. Details forthcoming.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation in Anne’s memory to Catholic Charities of Onondaga County, https://ccoc.us/giving/give-now.
What’s your fondest memory of Anne?
What’s a lesson you learned from Anne?
Share a story where Anne's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Anne you’ll never forget.
How did Anne make you smile?
