Anna Thames Vecchio

Anna Thames Vecchio, age 81, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2017. Anna was born March 18, 1936 to the late Ethel Thames and Cecille Thames Freeney in Magee, MS. Anna married the late Robert Raymond Vecchio on December 27, 1952. Anna’s parents moved the family during WWII to Ingall’s Shipbuilding where they made Pascagoula their life long home. Anna was a 1952 graduate of Pascagoula High School. She was a die-hard football fan and never missed a game when her children played ball or cheered for the Panthers. She especially loved college football and the New Orleans Saints. Anna spent 28 years as an Air Force wife and was in charge of 14 relocations in 28 years including moves to Berlin, Germany and Panama Canal Zone. She kept uniforms starched and stayed active playing cards with various clubs while raising her four children. During those military years she took loving care of her four children and was the rock of the family. In 1979 her husband, Raymond, retired and he and Anna settled in Gautier, MS. Anna ran the family Texaco station on Highway 90 for many years. After their second retirement they settled in Vancleave, MS taking care of their daughter, Raylene’s, horses. Anna was raised in the Baptist Church but converted to Catholicism after her marriage to Raymond. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Gautier and Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Vancleave. Anna stayed very active with old friends from high school and was very involved as one of the organizers for her class reunions. Anna was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Raymond Vecchio; her daughter, Debra Raylene Vecchio; and her two sisters, Billie Kate Price and Archie Joyce Thames. Survivors include her sons, Dino Ray Vecchio and his wife Vickie Sanford Vecchio of Vancleave, Major Dion R Vecchio and his wife, Carol Barrios Vecchio of Biloxi; her daughter, D’Ann Rene Pinero and her husband, Capt. Brett Pinero of Thibodaux, LA; grandchildren, Megan Rachelle Vecchio of Ocean Springs, Mario Vecchio of Biloxi, Vincent Vecchio of Biloxi, John Benton Cirino of Hattiesburg, Madelyn Pinero of Thibodaux, LA, Taylor Pinero of Thibodaux, LA, Dion Vecchio of Biloxi and Sara Vecchio of Biloxi; and great grandson, Jackson Dane Daugherty of Ocean Springs. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Vancleave #1 Cemetery. After the service, family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Dino and Vickie’s home. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.