Ann Marie Beale

August 9, 1939 – March 2, 2026

Ann Beale passed away peacefully on March 2, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. Born in Passaic, New Jersey, Ann grew up in Newark. In 1965, she met Richie Beale, and they married on September 30, 1967. Their son, Brian, was born in 1969, and the family moved to Livingston, New Jersey, in 1970.

Ann touched the lives of many people around her, most especially through her role in the heartfelt reunification of Richie with his two sons, Rick and Tom, later in life. She embraced them, their families, their children, and their grandchildren just as if they were her own, welcoming them with open arms and unwavering love.

Ann worked at Sears Roebuck in the Livingston Mall, starting in the jewelry department and later becoming a valued customer service representative.

Ann loved to entertain and socialize. She had many friends, but ten of them formed an extraordinary group known as the F.R.O.G.S. (Rosie, Ellie, Ellen, Antoinette, Nancy, Josephine, Mary, Joanne, Lucille, and Ann). For over 30 years, these women met on the first Thursday of each month, rotating among their homes. Ann was the driving force behind the group. Every Presidents’ Day weekend, she organized legendary family trips to the Catskills—first to the Pines Resort and later to the Raleigh—complete with sing-alongs, trivia contests, and lively games. When anyone asked what F.R.O.G.S. stood for, Ann would reply with her signature humor that they were an “underwater aquatic synchronized swim team.” Proud of her Irish heritage, Ann enjoyed Irish festivals and St. Patrick’s Day parades.

She cherished two special places: her summer home on Deer Lake in Stokes State Forest, where she cooked and entertained family, friends, and an endless stream of Brian’s friends (sometimes even without Brian present). She had a driving need to feed everyone until they couldn’t move. The other was her home at Solana Lake in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where she loved morning swims in the pool, decorating the building lobby for Christmas, other events and sharing coffee with her wonderful neighbors outside in the mornings. These dear friends supported her through difficult times—especially the three years she devotedly cared for her husband Rich—and later carried her when she needed it most.

Ann’s greatest joy was her granddaughter, Bonnie. At the lake, they spent hours inventing games and staging fashion shows. Ann loved being “Nannie,” taking Bonnie to the Magic Kingdom at Christmas and on her birthday, watching her learn to surf, and swimming together in the pool.

In New Jersey, Ann was a parishioner and active member of the Rosary Society at St. Philomena’s Church in Livingston. She was also a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Branchville and, later, Our Saviour Church in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Ann took her faith seriously, and at her son’s encouragement, she and Richie had their marriage sacramentally convalidated by the Church on April 20, 2023.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Martha Padden; her sisters, Lourdes Koban and Irene Ditty; and her brothers, John Padden, Anthony Padden, and Thomas Padden.

She is survived by her son, Brian, his wife, Liz, and their daughter, Bonnie; Richie’s sons, Rick and Tom, and their families, including their children and grandchildren whom she cherished; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews.

Ann will be deeply loved and greatly missed by so many.

In closing, as with my dad, Mom was blessed with the same incredible hospice team—Devyn, Allison, Katy, Evelina, Rosina and Linda. I will always be grateful to each of you.

Visitation will be held at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home, 1360 N Courtenay Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL 32953, on March 11, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

A Funeral Mass will take place at Church of Our Saviour, 5301 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931, on March 12, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.

A Committal Service will be held at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US Hwy 1, Mims, FL 32754, on March 12, 2026, from 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm.