Marie Bernadette Fortune Anile

MARIE BERNADETTE FORTUNE ANILE, 93, passed away June 10, 2025. She was born March 23, 1932 in Brittany, France. She had always lived near the ocean, which was her favorite place to be, especially in France. She is predeceased in death by her parents, Marie Josephine LeBrun Fortune and Fortune Fortune, her husband Angelo Carmen Anile, R.Ph., her brother Raymond Fortune. And her grandson Philip Angelo Anile. She lived a beautiful life in the countryside of France until one day she was faced with the horrific takeover of the German Nazis in WWII. They occupied her home and took her and her brother as ransom for her parents to tend to the soldiers and their demands; she was 10 years old. Fortunately, Bernadette also got to witness D-Day when the American soldiers came in and ended this horrible ordeal. She went on living in the countryside, working in her parents’ grocery store. Until one day, a handsome American Army soldier -Angelo Anile- who was stationed in France during the Korean war settlement saw her and said “She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen and I will marry her one day” He returned after the war and married her on December 26, 1955. A unique feature of their wedding was the wedding cake, which was actually not cake; it was lobsters. Bernadette was a foodie before it was even invented and through her life sought out fine cuisine and a lot of times making it herself. They returned to Weirton, West Virginia and started Stateline Anile Pharmacy. Bernadette and Angelo had three children. The eldest is Philip Leonard Anile of Geneva, OH who has a daughter Lauren Elizabeth Marie. Their second son is Dr. Paul Angelo and his wife, Marilyn of Long Beach, CA, their son Jacob who is expecting the first great granddaughter due in November. Their only daughter Michele Marie Anile Meli of Fort Lauderdale, FL has four children, Gabrielle Marie, Paul Michael, Ava Michele, and Mia Rae. In 1965 they moved from Weirton, WV to Paris, PA in an iconic stone house on the hill that both Angelo and Bernadette loved giving this home a new life, taking care of it and making wonderful memories there. They enjoyed all the land and especially all of the pool parties. It is here that Bernadette enjoyed gardening in her flower gardens, painting, playing music, making faberge egg designs and singing of which she only knew half the words but always continued the melody. She enjoyed crafting and decorating. Bernadette was a devout Christian and was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Burgettstown, PA. She also enjoyed fine cuisine with her favorite being French foods and seafood. She loved to cook her native foods but also managed to make and put out 200 nut rolls every Christmas for her family and friends. In 2000, she and Angelo bought a second home on the ocean in Fort Lauderdale to be near Michele’s children and also near her favorite place to be. She was the best Mimi around, not only to her children and grandchildren but to many others that she adored. As age proceeded she returned to Weirton to reside in Grace Cottage. She enjoyed her many visits from numerous friends and family, especially Kay Mascio and Lucienne Harrington who she called her dearest friends, and Lori Gianni Anile and Luanne Anile Colantonio, her close family. The beautiful people at Grace Cottage took excellent care of her. She loved hanging with her besties Ashley Shiring and Rachel Quattrochi and subjected them to numerous stories of scrabble and how much she missed her beloved food and her home in France. Her family made sure her numerous trips back to Florida always included her seafood and wine. Marie Bernadette was a feisty one which was shown by her hanging onto life until the age of 93. Her final written words were “Au revoir to my family and friends and I will see you again.” Visitation will take place Friday, June 20, 2025, from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 11 a.m., at St. Paul Cemetery Chapel, Weirton, with Rev. Fr. Dennis R. Schuelkens, Jr. presiding. Entombment will follow next to her beloved Angelo. Arrangements have been entrusted to Steel and Wolfe Funeral Home, Weirton. Condolences may be left at www.steelandwolfe.com.