Tribute

Anna Maria Casello was unforgettable. She was a woman of contradictions, intensity, and undeniable presence. Born at Loma Linda Hospital and raised in Rubidoux, California, she carried the scent of home with her wherever she went, a comforting reminder that some things never change. She was passionate, stubborn, and unapologetically herself, the kind of person who could make you laugh one minute and roll your eyes the next. Though she didn’t finish middle school, Anna Maria refused to be defined by limits. She lived all over the country. From California to Arizona, North Dakota, and finally Pennsylvania, she left her mark on every place she called home. A beauty queen in her youth, she broke hearts and demanded attention, never one to shrink into the background. But beneath the glamour was a fiercely strong-willed woman who lived on her own terms, sometimes infuriating those who loved her. She loved life’s pleasures with the same intensity she brought to everything else: swimming, karaoke, dancing, and the company of animals. She loved cats, who seemed to understand her better than most people did. Home was her sanctuary, and she poured herself into creating comfort and beauty in her Victorian bed and breakfast, welcoming travelers with a warmth that belied her fiery edges. As with most people, Anna had a dark side. She was stubborn, fiery, and unafraid to speak her mind, but it was part of what made her unforgettable. She lived without pretense, with all the messiness, contradictions, and intensity that come with being fully alive. There was never a dull moment with her: once, during the San Francisco earthquake of '89, while living in Moreno Valley, she rushed out of the house in sheer panic, and completely naked. Someone had to chase her down with a blanket, and the memory of her sheer urgency and fear mixed with humor is one we still laugh about today. That was Anna, bold, impulsive, and full of life, even in the chaos. Her legacy is not just in the places she lived or the people she touched, but in the way she demanded life be felt fully, the joys, the heartbreaks, and everything in between. Anna Maria Casello’s story is not one of perfection, but of living vividly, loving fiercely, and leaving a mark that will not soon fade.

Friends & Family

She joins her birth parents, John Michael Casello and Freda Mary Casello (maiden name: Benson), in eternal rest. Survived by: Josephine Marie Gilmore-Sister Renee Marie Wood-Niece; Autumn Lynn Cantrell-Niece; Matthew Jordan Gilmore-Nephew; Corin Amber McGee- Daughter; Candice Nichole Clark-Daughter; Joshua John Michael Clark-Son; Sebastian Stone-Son; Aubreeana Drovdal-Daughter; And several beautiful grandchildren.