Anna C. Masso, Fuller Brush representative/manager in the North Providence area for many years passed away on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. She was the wife of the beloved late Anthony L. Masso.
Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Vincenzo and Maddalena (Saterra) Toro. A graduate of Gilbert Stuart Junior High School and attended Johnston & Wales College.
Ann was the first woman who operated a Fuller Brush home-based product center in Rhode Island in the 70’s, along with her husband Anthony who also became a Fuller representative, together won many awards for outstanding sales achievements. Anna also recruited and trained others to be Fuller representatives from her home.
When asked at one time, “Anna, how can you handle 48 people to sell Fuller?” Anna would reply “We once had a great president who ruled our nation from a wheelchair, I think that I can manage a few dozen people in my area.”
Anna has been in a wheelchair since the 60’s and never mentioned it to her customers when she called by phone to sell.
When she and Anthony went to a restaurant or mall, occasionally a customer would recognize Anthony, as he did the Fuller deliveries to their homes. They would say, “you must be Anna who calls me, what happened? Were you in an accident?” When told them the situation, the customer would say, “why didn’t you mention you were in a wheelchair?” Anna would then reply, “first of all I’m selling a great well-known product, second, I think that I’m a pretty good saleswoman, and third, I didn’t want you to buy simply because I was in a wheelchair.” The customer would reply, “and there I was telling you about all my problems when you call.” Then there was laughter!
Anna’s passions were spending fun-time with her precious great-grandchildren, Devin, Dylan and Cali, creating fancy foods and desserts, a challenge doing crossword puzzles. Her favorite entertainers were Frank Sinatra and Johnny Carson.
She leaves a loving daughter, Gemma A DeSiano of Johnston a devoted grandson, Frankie “Elvis” DeSiano of North Providence who lived with her for many years, a loving granddaughter, Kerri McCaughey and husband Michael and children of Johnston, a wonderful brother Manny Toro and his wife Helen of Colorado, a thoughtful niece Janet Passano and husband Steve and their very special daughter Michelle who was affectionately known as “Anna’s wardrobe lady” of North Providence. She leaves many nieces and nephews and was also the sister of the late Maria Ceceri, Louis Toro, Salvatore Toro, Lucy Martini and John Toro.
Her funeral will be held on Saturday at 10am from the A.A. MARIANI & SON Funeral Home, 200 Hawkins St., Providence followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11am in St. Anthony Church, 1413 Mineral Spring Ave., North Providence. Burial will follow in St. Francis Cemetery, Pawtucket. Visiting hours Friday 4-7pm.

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