Anna Dell Denk Guess – born January 9, 1930, in Robertsdale, Alabama to James and Julia Denk, died December 2,2022, in Saraland, Alabama at her home with family attending. She was raised in a family of 2 half-brothers, Harry and Clarence Honzik, and 6 brothers and sisters: Justy Janson, Bessie Sodoma, Jimmy Denk, Helen Walden, Emma Schilling, and Edward Denk.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband and lifelong companion of 61 years, John Dreyer Guess, Sr. Anna has two sons and one daughter, John Dreyer Guess, Jr. (Karen) of Stockton, AL, Joseph Anthony Guess, Sr. (Carla) of Mobile, AL, and Mary Ann Guess Bradley (Dennis) of Saraland, AL. She was very close to her loving niece, Dianne Foster, of Daphne, AL, and fond of her other many nieces and nephews living in the Mobile/Baldwin area. She is also survived by her 15 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Anna graduated from Robertsdale High School in 1948 and earned a nursing diploma from Providence School of Nursing in 1951. She was a practicing RN in the Newborn Infants unit and later was the head nurse in the Med/Surgery unit at Providence Hospital.
Anna is best described by one of her granddaughters:
“The matriarch of our family, Anna Guess, passed the torch on to my mother last night (Dec. 2). She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. I know not a stronger, nor more stubborn woman who could chide anyone into doing what they should.
By sharing photos of her in her younger years, instead of her more recent ones, I honor her memory as she wished to be remembered.
Graduate of Providence Nursing School in the 1950s, she practiced nursing for five years before becoming a homemaker. The hardest of all jobs, to care for your friends and family, she practiced with a fervor that I’ve not seen elsewhere in my near 40 years.
She was never one for crowds, but if you stopped by her home, you’d leave with a heart unbound and a full belly.
Grandma, I hope to become the bright and dependable light of my family as you were for yours.”
Visitation will be held at Radney Funeral Home in Saraland from 10 to 11 a.m., on Thursday, December 8, 2022, with a short chapel service following the visitation at 11 a.m. Graveside prayer and closing will be conducted immediately afterwards at Pine Crest Cemetery on Dauphin Island Parkway. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-saraland.com.
