Wendy Josephine Abbruzzetti, Alexandria Business Co-Founder, Dies

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Wendy Josephine (née Harding) Abbruzzetti, 81, the co-founder of Trattoria da Franco in Old Town Alexandria, died June 24 at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus.

Wendy Abbruzzetti and her ex-husband Franco Abbruzzetti opened Trattoria Da Franco at 305 S. Washington Street in 1984. According to her family, Wendy worked to renovate the building, design the menu and manage daily operations until 1994.

Wendy Abbruzzetti was born on Nov. 27, 1942 in Bournemouth, United Kingdom to Joseph Harding and Mable Leaman (née Harding). She grew up as an athlete and animal lover in New Forest in Hampshire, United Kingdom. In 1960, she moved to London, met Franco Abbruzzetti, whom she married and had four children (Marcello, Paolo, Max, and Catherine) with. The family immigrated to the U.S. in late 1977. The couple was married for 34 years.

Following her time at Trattoria Da Franco, Wendy Abbruzzetti operated the 1850s almshouse farm at Mt. Pleasant Plantation in Chestertown, Maryland from 1995 to 2002. She returned to Alexandria in 2003 and owned Trastevere Antiques at 303 Cameron Street until 2019. Her passion for antiques and greetings from her cherished Westie, Scout, helping make the business memorable for locals and visitors.

Wendy Abbruzzetti is survived by her four children (Marcello, Paolo, Max, and Catherine) and her grandson (Michael Abbruzzetti).

A memorial service is planned July 14 at 12 p.m. at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 Washington Street in Alexandria. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity for dementia or the Alzheimer's Association in Wendy Josephine Abbruzzetti’s memory. The family shared a message of thanks to any people, caregivers or organizations who have supported her.