Anna Marie Battilana

Anna Marie (Damiano) Battilana, 89, of Syracuse, passed away October 1, 2026 surrounded by the love of her family. Born May 6, 1937, in Cosenza, Italy, Anna Marie was the daughter of the late Giuseppe and Madelaine Damiano. A devoted Catholic, she made Syracuse her home and spent much of her life doing what she loved most: cooking for and caring for others. Anna Marie built a long career in the food service industry. She worked for Syracuse University as a Food Supervisor for the University’s football department and later served as a chef and hostess at The Edgewood Resort in Alexandria Bay. One of her proudest accomplishments was owning and operating Anna Marie’s Restaurant at 3900 New Court Avenue in Syracuse for more than a decade. As both chef and hostess, Anna Marie became known for her homemade cooking and warm hospitality. Her restaurant was an extension of who she was, a place where good food brought people together and where she could share her love of cooking with family, friends, and countless customers. Outside of the kitchen, Anna Marie enjoyed trying her luck with scratch-off lottery tickets, but nothing brought her greater happiness than spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Anna Marie was predeceased by her husband of nearly 50 years, Richard Battilana, who passed away in 2005; her brother, Angelo Damiano; her parents; and several siblings in Italy. She is survived by her six children: Michael Battilana, Barbara and Gregory Smith, Anthony and Sandra Battilana, Janine and Benjamin Ridley, Anna and Alfonse Tripodi, and Richard Battilana, Jr. She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews and the many memories and family traditions she created throughout her life. A funeral Mass in celebration of Anna Marie’s life will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in St. Daniel’s Church, 3004 Court St., Syracuse. She will be laid to rest with her husband in Assumption Cemetery, 2401 Court St., Syracuse, NY. Family and friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) N. Syracuse, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Anna Marie’s memory to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, honoring her love of children and helping support young patients and their families.