Tributes

Alva "Al" Antoinette Lange (Anzono) went to be with the Lord and all her loved ones who passed before her on Sunday morning December 31, 2023, in Mooresville NC. She had a beautiful Vigil and service on January 3rd 2024 by Cavin-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory in Mooresville North Carolina and was cremated on January 5th 2024. She was born April 7, 1932 in Newark, New Jersey to the beautiful and kind late Mary and Charles Anzano. Her grandparents came here from Sicily and Naples Italy, they were 1st generation. She was one of 4 girls born to Mary and Charlie. She is preceded in passing by the love of her life, Husband William "Bill" Lange, and her sister Charlene Levine, her 3 brother-in-law's, and other family members. Alva is survived by her 2 sons, Stevie and Billy Lange, Granddaughter Autumn Brooke, two sisters June and Dolores, brother-in-law Martin and his wife Ann, and everyone's children and grandchildren. She and her husband met at high school, fell in love and moved from Newark New Jersey to live in Dunellen, than South Plainfield, and eventually settled in the mountains of Bridgewater New Jersey where they raised their 2 sons and made it a beautiful home! Born for endurance, love and liveliness she lived to the age of almost 92. Alva thrived on family, helping others and always generously giving. She and her husband loved family so much that even after 9 miscarriages they still decided to adopt 2 young sons, William "Bill" and Stephen (Stevie). Between her sisters and all their families, friends, love for her students and many others, she was always extremely happy and her desires in life were complete. Even her 2 son's friends all became her and her husband's friends as well. They loved people! After her two sons had moved out, she and her husband decided to bring two Chinese exchange students in for a couple semesters and treated them just like family, keeping up with the companionship and generosity they loved to share. Alva excelled in many other areas of life. She was very athletic and through her earlier days at Westside high school in Newark she was a top high jumper and ran track, played softball, became captain of both the girls' basketball team and also the twirlers (Majorettes) for the school's football team. Being a devout Christian she also helped out in church and the ministries outreach programs throughout her life. Graduating with honors and additional degrees in special education from Newark State teachers college, now Kean University in Union New Jersey, she began her 50+ years as a teacher starting with special education and eventually settled in at Immaculate Conception School in Somerville, New Jersey where she tough for over 35 years until her Husband passed in 2000. She than move to NC where one of her two sons and granddaughter live, to again be with family and lived and continued teaching there for many years, as well as in Idaho where her other son Steve lives for another 4 years while she lived out there. When she came back to North Carolina She continued teaching and subbing in North Carolina until 2020 when the pandemic closed the schools down. The only thing she loved more than helping, guiding, tutoring and educating children, young men and women, was her family and friends. At 91 years of age in April of 2023 she successfully renewed her driver's license and drove until the fall of 2023 when her health began to decline. She loved the simpler things in life as well. Good Italian food and pizza, Chinese food and buffets, and other fine dining, breakfast nooks, shopping, vacations, the Carolina Mountains (the Biltmore), trips to Florida and New Jersey shore and to visit family. Alva even fed the birds and squirrels out back daily. She made sure she had plenty of peanuts and wild bird food! Her legacy through all the 1'000's of students whose lives she kindly touched and mentored, family, friends, nieces, nephews, and even acts of kindness to strangers will live on for generations. As is viewed in certain cultures about the Dove, she will be remembered as symbol of eternal life, peace, hope, generosity, an earthly angle, innocence, purity, devoted to all family, spirituality, honored values, companionship, hope, ability & desire to return home no matter where she ventured to, comfort, support and encouraging, very family protective, uplifting, and installing faith in ourselves during any difficult times through her examples and encouragement! Alva was all of that and more. Now she actually has her eternal wings. Next time we see a Morning Dove, thoughts of her life will surface greatly. God Bless! In lieu of flowers, any memorials and condolences may be made to our family through Cavin-Cook Funeral Home and Crematory, www.cavin-cook.com.

Tributes

Alva Anzano Lange

April 7, 1932 - December 31, 2023