Anita Marie Johnson, 62 of Portland, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 15, 2018 after battling a long illness. Born and raised in Portland, she was the daughter of Frank Fagone and Margherite Federico. Anita grew up on “the hill” and graduated from Portland High School in 1973.
She went on, as she refers to it, to become a beauty school drop out. She held other jobs through the years until she found the job of a lifetime: being a stay at home mom. Her two daughters, Gina and Francesca, were her life and she truly believed she was put on this earth to raise them to be strong, loving, and compassionate women and to teach them all of her life lessons.
Anita lived by the saying “whatever is meant to be will be”. Her positive and upbeat attitude helped her cope with many of the obstacles thrown her way and would try to find the humor in the darkest of situations. She also believed in the phrase “laughter is the best medicine”.
You could always find her telling a dirty joke and livening up any conversation. Anyone who came to her house, be it friends of her children or relatives, knew enough to take a seat in the living room and chat for a few minutes regardless of the reason for the visit. They always left in tears from laughing so hard and if you didn’t have a good sense of humor, you likely weren’t invited back to her house.
Anita was known for the things she enjoyed such as shopping, Italian food, bimonthly manicures, and Christmas time. There was nothing she loved more than to go for an afternoon of shopping with her daughters followed by dinner at one of her favorite restaurants. Eggplant parmesan was her favorite, but she always said Guy at Quatrucci’s made it best.
She would always receive compliments on her nails and toenails, as they were always done up in some shade of red or pink to match her outfit for the coming weeks. Her latest shade, OPI on Collins Ave, was a fan favorite. Shortly after Thanksgiving, you could find Anita getting ready to set up for Christmas.
She loved the snowfall, twinkling lights, religious decorations, songs, and how people became kinder and more generous that time of year. She enjoyed seeing the surprised and delighted looks on her family’s faces when she gave them the perfect gift they were never expecting. In the rare occasion that you didn’t like her gift, you had to be prepared to receive a long and dirty look followed by a lecture about how she didn’t actually have to get you anything at all and that she could take back the rest of the gifts she also gave you.
Knowing Anita, this would also end in laughter. Anita is survived by her two daughters, Gina and Francesca Johnson of Portland and her husband of 32 years Gregory. She is predeceased by her father, Frank Fagone, her mother Margherite Federico, her brother Daniel Alfiero, and her premature twins baby girl and baby boy Johnson.
We would like to thank the countless doctors, surgeons, nurses, and staff at Maine Medical Center for the numerous stays Anita had there and at Casco Bay Dialysis for the care she received. You all helped her have more precious time with her family and we are sincerely grateful. A special note of gratitude is extended to the SCU, R5, and R7 staff.
We are forever indebted for the kindness, attention, and care you all showed Anita and our family during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, The National Kidney Foundation, and The ALS Association. Visitation will be held from 12:00 – 2:00 PM with a funeral service at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Ave.
, Portland.
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