Anita M. Palumbo, 88, of Coconut Creek, FL, passed away April 7, 2013. She is survived by her beloved sister Yolanda Barfus. Anita was a devoted daughter to Marie and Benedetto. She was also a loving sister to her other siblings, now deceased, Betty and Ben. Aunt Anita enriched the lives of her nieces and nephews with a willingness to continue being a child well into her 80's!

Anita was joyful - finding and creating great happiness all around her – enriching the lives of her family, friends and cats. She was a renowned cat lover, tending to family pets Nebsie, Momo, Hugo and Max. Shortly after long-time feline companion Bene Bene passed on, Mi Mi and Milady found her. When they moved on to cat heaven, Jasper stepped in to take their place. After his long and difficult illness and death, she vowed "no more cats!" – but she could not resist the sweet personality of Miss Koko, the dilute calico who would be her last pet.

Anita graduated cum laude from Queens College, where she majored in speech; her diction was impeccable, and she would later put this skill to practical use in annual Christmas plays with her nieces! She studied singing her whole adult life, finding the Musigals and church choir in her final years.

As if music, family and cats were not enough, Anita devoted much of her time and energy to becoming an independent career woman, finding success in the competitive field of film and advertising via Ernst Van Praag, Inc.

In her four score and eight years, Anita amassed a book collection that would elicit envy from the Library of Congress. She was the master hamburger chef at the Van Praag annual barbecues. But "Miss Anita" found her greatest merriment and satisfaction at the age of 81, while working with children as a Teacher's Aid for her dear friend, Ann.

In Anita's last months, she found joy and companionship with her personal assistant and special friend, Shelly. She continued to display the Anita spark each day, when she asked Shelly, "What's the plan today?" With everyone she met, Anita's kindness and sense of humor shone, and she enhanced the lives of more people than she would ever know with her creativity and wit. She is remembered with love and admiration.

Family will receive friends Tuesday, April 9, 2-4 & 6-8pm at the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, April 10, 11am at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Boca Raton. Donations may be made in her memory to The Humane Society of the United States.