In Memorium: Longtime Rumsonite Ann Connor

Longtime Rumson resident Ann M. Connor passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 15. She was 90.

Ann Connor
Photo/courtesy of Thompson Memorial Home

A 1946 graduate of Rumson High School (now Rumson-Fair Haven Regional), Ann was born in Hoboken to Valentine and Mary Smith and ended up living most of her life in Rumson and raising her own family there. She was well-known as a member of Holy Cross Church in Rumson, where she was the bookkeeper for many years.

The family shared the following fun memories of Ann as a Rumson girl and mom in her obituary

Ann enjoyed bowling, reading, going to the beach, and spending time with her neighbor and big sister, Marion. 

One of her favorite pastimes was taking daily and noisy predawn walks to the Oceanic Bridge with Marion, much to the dismay of River Road residents. Ann never grasped the basic compass points as they related to the Two River area, resulting in unplanned sightseeing trips when she encountered road detours. 

Unlucky passengers noted her simplified driving style: she was either accelerating or braking, and nothing in between.  Ann especially liked the volleyball games at family barbeques, where she was by far the worst player; but nobody enjoyed it more or laughed harder at her lack of athletic prowess.

She was predeceased by: her husband, Robert Connor, Sr.; her daughter, Barbara Christoffersen; her grandson, Mark Connor; her sister, Marion Beattie; and her brother, Donald Smith. 

Surviving are: her loving children, Robert Connor Jr. (wife Lyle), Dave Connor, and Amy Rooney; her sister, Joan Byrne; and seven beloved grandchildren, Erik and Kurt Christoffersen, Dave Connor, Lauren Grumbach, Casey, Margaret and Andrew Rooney; and two great-grandchildren, Jack and Max Grumbach.

A memorial gathering will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20 at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Rumson.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s New Jersey.