“To Know Ana Was to Love Her”: Arizona Anchor Ana Orsini Dies Suddenly from Brain Aneurysm
( Image: Ana Orsini/Facebook)
Beloved Arizona news anchor Ana Orsini tragically passed away after suffering a brain aneurysm, her colleague and fellow KOLD-TV anchor Tyler Butler revealed in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“We now know that Ana Orsini TV died of a brain aneurysm,” Butler wrote. “It’s so horrible, so sudden, but this web article has been updated with some things that made me smile.”
Describing Orsini as “a force of nature,” Butler recalled her kindness and unwavering support for her colleagues. “I keep thinking about how at times, I’d make a self-deprecating joke and she’d snap, ‘Hey! Don’t talk about my friend like that.’ Her genuine care for everyone around her will be missed.”
Orsini, who joined KOLD-TV’s 13 News in June 2023, was remembered as a beacon of positivity and compassion. A tribute posted by the station honored her as someone “with bottomless empathy who always stood up for ‘the little guy.’” Known for mentoring younger reporters, Orsini was also passionate about animal rescue and a devoted listener of true crime podcasts, reported USA Today.
13 News described Orsini as a “peanut-butter-M&M-loving” and “platform-Ugg-wearing” anchor who brought joy to even the earliest morning broadcasts. Her unexpected passing was announced during Monday’s broadcast, where her colleagues struggled to hold back tears.
“Sad news to share with you, our beloved friend and co-anchor Ana Orsini passed away unexpectedly last week,” Butler told viewers. Co-anchor Carsyn Currier added, “Ana has been here at 13 News since June of 2023, and we are devastated by this loss.”
Orsini’s journalism career began in 2018 after graduating from Texas A&M University in College Station. She started at a news station in Texas before moving to Oregon, where she spent three years as a morning and midday anchor, covering everything from “major wildfires to helping shelter pets find their forever homes.”
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Butler reflected on Orsini’s vibrant personality and dedication. “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,” he wrote. “She LOVED her family and talked about them all the time. For years to come, we’ll be repeating her mantra: ‘Let the women do the work!’”
Currier shared an emotional tribute, praising Orsini’s unique spirit and warmth. “Ana was not only beautiful, talented, and hilarious, but she was unlike anyone I’ve ever met,” Currier wrote. “To know Ana was to LOVE her. She made everyone around her feel so special, heard, and understood.”
The news of Orsini’s passing has left a void in the Arizona journalism community, but her legacy of kindness, humor, and empathy will undoubtedly live on.
