Anne Rose (Zupan) Bellotti

In Loving Memory

Anne “Annie” Rose Zupan

1924 -2024

Mass of Catholic Burial

Saturday March 23rd 10:30 am

Rosary preceding Mass

Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Fr. Steve Garza

Committal and Internment

Mount Calvary Cemetery

Reception

Running Y Lodge

1pm - 4pm

In lieu of flowers, please give to the Catholic Daughters of America, Klamath Falls.  Please send your check “in memory of Anne Bellotti” to “Court Klamath CDA” care of Sacred Heart Church, 815 High Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.

Anne (Annie) Rose Bellotti passed peacefully on March 11th with her family by her side.

    Annie, the youngest of six brothers and sisters, was born in Baker, Oregon on June 27, 1924 at La Grande hospital to Maria (Krmpotic) and David Anthony (Zupan). Annie is predeceased by her husband Aldo (Al) and her brothers and sisters Katie, Tony, Theresa, Matilda (Tilly) and Nick.  Growing up Annie lived in Baker for about four years and then moved with her family to Klamath Falls Oregon. Her parents, Maria and David Anthony owned a boarding house in Klamath Falls. Mom and her sisters and brothers helped with the upkeep of the house. The boarders were men who worked in the timber and lumber industry and, as her parents, were also immigrants.

    Annie attended Sacred Heart Academy from grade school through high school. She was very active in choir (Trio), sports (basketball) and had a terrific group of friends. Annie graduated as valedictorian and attended Marylhurst College. She had hopes to pursue a career and do great things. Her parents asked her to come home and she did of course. Annie spent a bit of time in San Francisco and worked as a bank teller. She eventually returned to Klamath Falls.

    Annie met her husband Aldo (Al) Bellotti in 1945 at the Cal-Ore dance hall. Annie spotted Al at the dance hall who was with a group of friends. Annie said to Al, “congrats on your marriage”. Al said “I’m not getting married” and minutes later he asked her to dance. They were married on September 1st 1947 and celebrated over 50 years of marriage.

    Annie and Al had eight children, daughter in laws, partners, grandchildren and great grandchildren: Aldo Victor, Stephen David, Jerome Anthony and Kimberly, Frank Fernando and Rosanna, Marie Bernadette, Sheila Anne, Philip Nicholas and Sonia and Denise Antoinette and Anna. Annie was the “chief operating office” of the household raising her children, managing the home and being the best mother to her children and wife to her husband Al. You often saw Annie and Al at their children’s games - football, volleyball, basketball, track and field and baseball.

    After her husband Al passed away in February, 2006 she remained in Klamath Falls for two years. Then she decided to call her son Vic and asked if she could live with him. Vic quickly brought her to his home and lived with her for fifteen memorable years. Vic and Annie had quite the time together sharing meals with friends, going on road trips throughout Oregon, attending church and visiting Annie’s place at the Running Y. These were some of her happiest days.

    Annie enjoyed traveling which included a trip to Italy with Al and her daughters Marie and Sheila. They visited Rome, Vatican City, Venice, Milan and Fivizzano, (Al’s ancestral home).While in Vatican City, they had an audience with the Pope. She also traveled to Croatia with Vic, her daughter Denise and close family friend Matthew Whalen. They spent time visiting Split, Gospic, Barleta and Trogir. In Barleta they happened upon her relatives Mate (her first cousin) and Marja his wife who invited our family in for a meal. Such memorable trips. Of her many passions, one was spending time with her sisters and brothers and their families and attending picnics and gatherings, especially the epic events at the McPhees. She spent time caring for her sister Katie, visiting her and her family often.  Her brother Nick was a constant at her home, sharing meals and holidays and was a favorite of Al. They would spend Sundays watching football and gamely betting on the Cowboys and the Steelers. Annie also cared for Elsa Burden, a client and friend of Al’s and took care of her until she passed.  Annie’s other passion was her children and especially her grandchildren and their spouses; Jerome Patrick and Caitlin, Vincent and Bryte, Caitlin and Dante, Dominic, Anthony and Phoebe, Sophia and Bennet and Carmen. Annie had the opportunity
to meet her great grandchildren Roman and Rhett at her 99th birthday celebration. Annie was an active member of the church and Catholic Daughters of America. She also was an active member of the Elks Club, Sons and Daughters of Italy, as well as the local Republican party working on presidential, governorship and other local elections.

Family Remembrances

    A close family friend, Matthew Whalen shared the following: Anne moved up to Eugene to live with Vic in about 2009. Whether at Sunday dinner or just hanging out with, Anne would talk about her younger years; her siblings and parents and childhood friends. I enjoyed looking up these people on a genealogy website and they came alive for Anne, Vic, and me in many records and images. Anne enjoyed it and it seemed to bring up other memories. While Anne had memory issues later in life, it didn’t seem to impact her earlier memories and stories. Vic cooked for my family a lot over the past 35 years.. One Thanksgiving, after Mr. Bellotti had passed away, I was out of town and Vic invited my dad over for dinner and Anne was there as well. Anne had brought her raviolis with her from Klamath Falls. Speaking with dad later that evening he told me “I had a great time at Vic’s. Matt, they were the best raviolis I have ever eaten.”

    One of my best memories was going to Croatia with Anne, Denise, and Vic and, among other things, finding and visiting her first cousin Mate Krmpotic in Barlete,home to the original Zupan and Krmpotic families. Anne was in her element on the trip and I enjoyed hearing some of her stories in the context of being in her homeland.
One other thing Anne did was teach us some Croatian phrases. ( Be quiet! Kiss my butt! the latter in the context of her sister Tillie’s friend Dorothy Marsrow who played the piano and would use all sorts of Croatian she picked up for lyrics). Among the phrases was laku noć, or good night. It became a ritual that when I went home Anne and I would clasp hands and I would say “laku noć Anne“, to which she always replied “dođi opet“ (come again).So Anne...“do ponovnog susreta.“ MJW

    A few memories from her daughter Denise: One of my earliest memories of mom is her dropping me off at her dad’s house for the afternoon and boy, did I not want to be there! I held onto mom’s leg until I finally let go and went in with Grandpa. He immediately gave me a giant palmful of coins and we walked to the corner store to get candy! Another time with mom grocery shopping, mom would hit several stores in one afternoon, loaded with coupons and getting the best prices. This one time at Big Y Market I pocketed a tootsie roll and foolishly ate it in the car and was caught! Mom promptly walked me back into the store and made me admit my guilt. Mom was always above board, through and through.

With our deepest love.