Anne grew up flanked by four handsome brothers: Bill, twin brothers Doug and Ron and her youngest brother, Greg. Anne attended Mt. St. Joseph Academy in Brighton, Mass., and Boston University secretarial school. Soon after school, she began dating Joseph "Red" O'Hara and fell madly in love.
As Anne and Joe were both redheads, the wedding toast was "to the preservation of redheads.” That’s just what the couple did, with children MaryBeth, Joanne, Mark and Kathleen. Anne and Joe prided themselves on the strength of their family and on their marriage of 57 years.
The couple raised their family in Medway, Mass., before retiring to Sarasota in 2004.
Anne's career was to be everything to everyone, and she excelled at it. Daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, godmother, mother-in-law, grandmother, friend — anyone who met her felt her constant kindness, sincere concern and unwavering love.
Family was everything to Anne, who was happy doing anything if it meant doing it with those she loved. She also loved to read and learn about others, and often had three biographies going at a time.
Her grace, impeccable manners and perfect diction were a natural part of Anne, along with a warmth and compassion that touched many and will be deeply missed.
As expressed by her 11 grandchildren (which includes three sets of twins), "Nana will never leave us. She will be in our hearts and we will honor her in our actions every day."
In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, at pancan.org/ways-to-give.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 on Oct. 21, at Palms-Robarts Funeral Home 170 Honore Ave., Sarasota, FL 34232. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann’s in Neponset, MA in the spring.
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