It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our mom and nana, Anna V Friebel.  Mom passed away peacefully, in her home, on Saturday, August 7, 2021.

Anna Maria Vernetti Friebel was born in 1930 to Lidia and Giacomo (Jim) Vernetti who had immigrated to the United States, from Northern Italy, in 1921. They moved to Morgan Hill when Anna was 12.  Anna graduated from Live Oak High School in 1948. She continued her education and graduated with a degree in business from San Jose State University, in 1964, fulfilling a promise she had made to her father, prior to his passing, to finish her education. Anna was bilingual and she spoke Italian beautifully.

Anna began her career in Morgan Hill Unified in 1958, teaching while raising a family. She continued teaching until 2003, the year she was awarded Teacher of the Year by the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce. During her career, she taught at San Martin/Gwinn, PA Walsh, Nordstrom, and Britton Middle School. Teaching and creating a welcoming classroom always brought her joy.  Anna played the piano, herself, and championed the importance of music education in schools, supporting Britton Middle School's jazz band and concert bands and as an active booster for the Live Oak Emerald Regime. She was also a big supporter of 4H and FFA programs, working with kids and their animals all the way to the county fair. She was committed to the teaching of thousands of young people throughout her years in education.  There wasn't a place we could take her without one of her former students, and the like, approaching to say hello or to give her a hug.

Mom loved gardening.  In summertime, during her younger years when she lived in San Martin, you could often find her down on her hands and knees, in the dirt, tending to her gigantic vegetable garden.  She grew beautiful roses, as well. She also loved to dance and could "jitterbug" like nobody's business.  In their younger years, she and our dad could move across the dance floor with a natural grace and style that turned heads.

She was always a very loving and supportive mother and nana.  She loved to brag about her kids and grandkids.  Mom/Nana will be missed dearly.

Anna is survived by her four children and their spouses: Jim (Mary Ann) Friebel III, Bill (Debbie) Friebel, Tom (Kris) Friebel, and Lia (Richard) Punches; her eight grandchildren and spouses: Cheri (Louis) Huntley II, Jimmy (Kymberlie) Friebel IV, Alyssa (Matt) Osborne, Vanessa (Garrett) Gomes, Katrina (Chris) Smith, Anthony Friebel, Anne Marie Zocchi, and Charlotte Punches; her twelve great-grandchildren, her three great-great-grandchildren, and her three cats.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Habing Family Funeral Home, with a vigil at 7PM. celebration of Anna's life will be held on November 13th, and details will be announced once settled.