Ann Marie Reding

She was born, July 26, 1933, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, to William D. Russell and Helen T. Fenton Russell. Ann was the third of six children.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Helen Russell; her loving husband, Donald J Reding; and brothers, David Russell, William Russell, and John Russell.

She is survived by her siblings; Maureen Avenell and Robert Russell; 9 children and their spouses, Don (Patricia) Reding, Dan Reding, Tim Reding, Lois (Richard) Patterson, Maureen (David) Covell, Dave (Tracy) Reding, Chris (Toni) Reding, Sean (Adele) Reding and Bill (Julie) Reding; 23 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ann grew up in Belchertown, Massachusetts and at 19, she married 2nd Lt. Donald J. Reding. They spent the next 49 years together, until Don’s passing in 2002.

Shortly after moving to Elizabethtown, in 1977, Ann went to work for GTE/Verizon until her retirement in 2001. While working full-time at GTE, she also earned a bachelor’s degree in business.

Ann’s Catholic Faith was a big part of her life. She was a member of Saint James Catholic Church since her arrival in Elizabethtown. She was always extremely active in the Church and served as a volunteer in a number of roles.

Ann had a variety of interests that she pursued throughout her life. She was an avid reader with a strong interest in history, biographies, and politics. Sewing, crochet, and quilting were some of her hobbies over the years. She was a great cook, incredible pies being one of her specialties. Her molasses cookies also received rave reviews. Her dog, Maizie, was a particular fan of those cookies, especially if they were warm from the oven!

Ann had a lot of talents and hobbies, but her children and their welfare were always foremost in her mind. Those of us who grew up calling her mom remember the woman in our childhood who was always the first one up in the morning and the last to go to bed at night. Her days began in the darkness of early morning, making school lunches, and often ended late in the evening with ironing and folding clothes that might be needed the next day. Sometime earlier, she tucked us into bed and rubbed our foreheads as she whispered, “No bad dreams tonight” three times. It had to be repeated three times, or it wouldn’t work. You can’t be too careful when you’re warding off bad dreams. She should have been exhausted. She was exhausted. She didn’t care. She put us first. She always put us first. If you were blessed to have a similar mom, you have some sense of the woman whose passing we mourn today. We rejoice that she’s free of the physical difficulties she endured in the final years of her life and that she leaves us to be with the Lord, but she will be greatly missed by those she loved so well.

A funeral will be held at 11a.m. on Monday, June 2, 2025 at St. James Catholic Church.

Visitation will be held from 2 – 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2025, and again on Monday from 9 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home until time of service.