Ana Orsini: 28-year-old news anchor dies of brain aneurysm

KOLD-TV in Arizona is currently in shock and mourning after the unexpected death of one of their beloved team members, Ana Orsini.

The 28-year-old news anchor tragically passed away last week from a brain aneurysm, as confirmed by her colleague, KOLD-TV anchor Tyler Butler, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, December 17.

Loved peanut butter M&Ms and her Uggs

Life is fragile, and sometimes everything can change in an instant. Ana Orsini, the young and beloved news anchor at KOLD-TV, is no longer with us.

The 28-year-old Arizona news anchor died from a brain aneurysm, as confirmed by her colleague, KOLD-TV anchor Tyler Butler, on Facebook on Tuesday, December 17. A brain aneurysm occurs when a blood vessel in the brain weakens and bulges, potentially rupturing, which can lead to severe, often life-threatening consequences.

Symptoms may include sudden, intense headaches, nausea, blurred vision, and even loss of consciousness. If untreated, a ruptured aneurysm can cause strokes, brain damage, or death, making early detection and medical intervention crucial.

Known for her love of peanut butter M&Ms and platform Uggs, Ana passed away unexpectedly last week.

“It’s so horrible, so sudden,” wrote Tyler Butler, also a KOLD-TV anchor, on Facebook.

“Ana was a force of nature. 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,” he continued.

Raised in Denver

Ana Orsini began her journalistic career at a news station in Lubbock, Texas. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, she made the move from the mountains to the plains, graduating from Texas A&M University in 2018.

She spent three years as a morning and midday anchor in Medford, Oregon, covering everything from major wildfires to helping shelter pets find their forever homes.

At KOLD-TV, she was known for her “bottomless empathy” and for always standing up for “the little guy.” She was passionate about animal rescue and loved listening to true crime podcasts.

The news of her death was first reported by her colleagues at the CBS affiliate in Tucson on Monday, December 16.

”Sad news to share with you, our beloved friend and co-anchor Ana Orsini passed away unexpectedly last week,” Tyler Butler and Carsyn Currier, announced her passing during an emotional broadcast.

”Ana has been here at 13 News since June of 2023, and we are devastated by this loss,” co-anchor Carsyn Currier said, with her voice breaking.

”She was unlike anyone I’ve ever met”

Those who knew Ana are mourning her loss, including Butler and Currier.

“She was truly one of a kind,” Butler wrote on Facebook. “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.”

On Instagram, Currier recalled Ana as a friend who made it so much easier to wake up in the middle of the night for their early morning shifts.

“Ana was not only beautiful, talented, and hilarious, but she was unlike anyone I’ve ever met,” Currier wrote alongside a series of photos of the two anchors. “To know Ana was to LOVE her. She made everyone around her feel so special, heard, and understood.”

“She was a proud daughter, sister, and the best dog mom to her baby boy, Harley,” Currier added. “Rest in peace, sister. I promise to keep living fully for YOU.”

”There are special people who come into our lives that will have an everlasting impact, and Ana Orsini was one of them,” anchor Dan Marries wrote in an emotional tribute to his co-worker. ”Ana, you were one in a trillion; wise beyond your years, full of practical insight, smart, compassionate, quick-witted, and possessed a contagious love for animals, especially dogs.”

Rest in peace, Ana. Condolences to the family.