Today we say good bye to Annie after a long and well lived life. Annie was a sister, a beloved wife, mother and a granny. While her dementia robbed her of her short-term memory during the later years of her life, she luckily retained most of her long-term memory almost until the end.
Everyone who knew Annie knew how much she loved her husband Wendell. She would light up when she spoke of Wendell. Annie would happily share the tale of how she met Wendell, and how they dated for only a short while before going off to Elkton Maryland to marry. They were married almost 50 years. Because of Wendell’s military service, Annie lived in a few exotic locations. She would often speak of the Quonset hut she lived in on the island of Guam, or her life in Puerto Rico, however she remained a Philly girl at heart. She would tell us that Wendell was a country boy but she was forever a “City Slicker“. One of our favorite Annie stories was told to us by Wendell. Annie was a navy wife who was used to getting up before the sun, one morning Wendell awoke around 5am, it was still dark outside and he found Annie dusting the house in the dark. He then wondered how clean the house could be if she couldn’t see what he was dusting. After losing Wendell, she would tell us, when her time on this earth was over she wanted to be place with her Wendell as soon as possible. It’s been almost 20 years but we trust that Wendell was there to greet her.
Annie loved her sisters. Annie continued to ask about Jean and Rita as recently as last week. She shared how lucky she and all her sisters were to have married such wonderful men. We hope she’s catching up with all her sisters now too.
Annie loved her son and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her David. We have a family joke that Dave was not his parent’s child, however everyone could clearly see he was his mom’s boy. Anyone who has ever flown with them can attest to that fact. Both have very travel sensitive stomachs. Rumor has it that Annie experienced air sickness all over 3 yr old Dave on their flight home from Puerto Rico.
When Nicklaus came along Annie became a Grandmother and that chubby little boy became his “Dranny’s” best buddy. Annie spent hours playing with him, and never, ever went shopping without bringing some toy or article of clothing back for him. For his birthdays should would often bring him toys bigger than her. When we asked Annie to watch Nicklaus she literally and figuratively watched Nicklaus. Annie would beam with pride when we told her that Nicklaus was in college and wanted to become an Accountant. A big part of who Nicklaus is today is because of Annie. She was his day care provider and his bank! Annie always use to tell Nicklaus when she won the lottery she’d buy him a Cadillac. Annie never won the lottery but those of us who knew her should feel like we have. She was a kind and generous woman who will be missed. We love you. Rest in Peace Annie. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at Sunset Memorial Park on July 14, 2017, 2 pm precisely, for Annies's graveside service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania ( give.specialolympics.org/match )
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