Anna M. (Gemma) Laurelli

Anna M. (Gemma) Laurelli, 98, of Cranston, passed away Thursday evening, April 16, 2026 at Briarcliffe Preserve, Johnston. She was the beloved wife of the late Cosmo F. Laurelli.

Born Oct. 14, 1927, in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Basilio and Filomena (Monti) Gemma, and the sister of the late Basil, Peter and Gregory Gemma, Josephine Ruggieri and Rose Marie Martin.

She grew up on Ford Street in Providence with her family and was a graduate of Saint Xavier Academy. Anna had many passions but her devotion to her Catholic faith almost led her to entering the church sisterhood.  She later worked at National Plumbing Supply in Providence, RI where she made many lifelong friends and eventually met her future husband. 

In 1968 she became the beloved wife of Cosmo F. Laurelli and was married to him up until his passing in 1992. She was extremely close with her two sisters Josephine and Rose Marie. She lived on Meredith Drive in Dean Estates with her husband and two sons, Cosmo and Robert, but her second home was on Vermont Street in Knightsville, constantly visiting her sister Joe and family.  Anna was a proud parishioner of St. Marks Church in Cranston and had an illustrious social life. Her love of golf, bowling, scratching lottery tickets and being with her family and friends was second to none. Later in life she worked for the University of Rhode Island cafeteria program working many years at the Alton Jones and Main campuses . As life moved along Anna eventually took up residence at the Briarcliffe Preserve assisted living facility in Johnston.  Her social life was not lacking there either and she touched many residents and staff. Their care of her during her final time can never fully be thanked. 

She is survived by her sons, Cosmo R. Laurelli and his wife Kimberly, Robert P. Laurelli and his wife Gianna; her stepdaughters, Lisa Krug and her husband John, Roberta Farrar and her husband Kevin; and nine grandchildren, Cosmo, Grace and Gemma, Neviana, Giacomo, Lorenzo, Kate and Elizabeth

Visitation will be Monday, April 20, from 4pm until 7pm in the “WOODLAWN” Funeral Home, 600 Pontiac Ave., Cranston. Her funeral will begin Tuesday, April 21, at 9am at the “WOODLAWN” Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Mark’s Church, Cranston. Burial will follow at St. Ann Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are greatly appreciated to St. Mark Church, 9 Garden Court, Cranston, RI 02920.

Please share memories and condolences at www.WoodlawnRI.com.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Anna M. (Gemma) Laurelli, please visit our Tree Store.