TRAGIC LOSS: Beloved TV news anchor dies suddenly at 28

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A local CBS television station in Arizona has been left devastated over the sudden death of beloved morning news anchor Ana Orsini, who was only 28 years old.

CBS affiliate station KOLD News 13 in Tucson, Arizona announced Monday that Orsini died last week of a brain aneurysm.  She had worked at the station since June 2023.

Orsini had started her news career in 2018 as a reporter and anchor in Lubbock, Texas. She then spent three years as a news anchor for a television station in Medford, Oregon, before moving to Tucson to work for 13 News.

Orsini’s colleagues and co-anchors, Tyler Butler and Carsyn Currier fought back tears as they announced her death during a Monday morning broadcast.

“Sad news to share with you, our beloved friend and co-anchor Ana Orsini passed away unexpectedly last week,” Butler said.

“We had the opportunity to work with her every day, and we do want you to know that what you saw with her on air, the funny, crazy person she was, she was just like that off-camera and more so,” he added later.

WATCH the moving tribute below:

In a Facebook post early Monday morning, Butler shared photos, along with the following tribute:

We have some truly sad news to share this morning. Our beloved Ana Orsini TV passed away suddenly late last week. She was truly one of a kind. Crazy passionate about helping animals, she had a great and sarcastic sense of humor, and was so dedicated to her family. She LOVED her family and talked about them all the time. I’m glad to have been a small part of her work family.

Please take a moment today to think about Ana. A time she made you laugh or think about something in a different way. She was too young, but we can remember her always. For years to come, we’ll be repeating her mantra. “Let the women do the work!”

Currier also paid tribute to Orsini on Facebook:

While there isn’t enough time for me to truly describe the incredible person Ana Orsini was, there are a few things I’d like to say in remembrance of one of my best friends. Ana was not only beautiful, talented, and hilarious, but she was unlike anyone I’ve ever met. To know Ana was to LOVE her. She made everyone around her feel so special, heard and understood. Waking up in the middle of the night to go to work is always challenging, but knowing I was going to work with Ana made it that much easier.

Whether she was dancing around the set or making us all laugh, everyday with Ana was an adventure. Ana’s family was everything to her. She was a proud daughter, sister, and the best dog mom to her baby boy, Harley. She was an advocate for animals, women’s rights, and one heck of a friend. Time may pass, but my memories of Ana will never fade. I love you forever, Ana. You’ll always be the Bratz Doll to my Barbie Doll. 💖 Rest in Peace, sister. 🕊️✨🪽I promise to keep living fully for YOU.

Many others who knew and loved Orsini are also posting tributes on social media:

Allie Potter: “Literally no words and only tears. Still at a loss for words 💔@AnaOrsiniTV was seriously one of the sassiest and sweetest girls! We were just talking about eyelashes and she gave me Advil because my back was hurting. The next day, she was gone 😢 RIP Ana 🩷we love you!”

Brett Taylor: “I’m almost at a loss for words…I can’t believe you are truly gone. Nearly three years of memories, laughs and times working together at @KDRV gone in a flash. You were an incredible friend. A shining bright person that always knew how to bring a smile to me and encourage me even when I was feeling at my lowest point. You had so many dreams and potential plans of how you wanted the rest of your life to go. And how you were going to live those dreams and moments to the fullest. I will not let your legacy and dreams go to waste and will live the rest of my life always remaining positive just as you had. RIP @AnaOrsiniTV. You will never be forgotten.”

Cameron Derby: “I am so sad to hear of Ana Orsini’s passing. I had the pleasure of working with her at KDRV for a couple years. She was so kind, funny, driven, and just an overall joy to be around. She had such a way of making everything funny. But she also cared so much about her work, her family, and her friends. I’m thankful for the moments I got to have with her. RIP Ana❤️.”

Matt Hoffman: “I didn’t want to believe this when I first got the news. It’s not fair. She was too special. I’m going to miss Ana so much. She was such a charming, witty & caring person. I wish I could’ve heard her voice one and made her laugh just one more time.”

Cameron Derby: “Ana Orsini consistently kept candy jars in the newsroom. Anyone who knows me knows I have a problem eating just one piece of candy. Ana left a note one day, directly targeted at me, without naming me.😂 I’ll never forget her. Thanks for all the funny times, Ana.”

Rusty Surette: “Ana Orsini, a news anchor in Arizona, and Texas A&M graduate, has died at the age of 28. Ana was an intern here at KBTX several years ago before beginning her journalism career. More information is shared below. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and colleagues at our sister station KOLD-TV in Tuscon.”

Orsini’s last public Facebook post was a plea for people to be on the lookout for a lost dog, who she said is an emotional support animal (or ESA) for a 13-year-old boy who was diagnosed with autism.

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