In Memoriam: Former Longtime Rumsonite, Holy Cross Secretary, Ann Campanella, 95

Former longtime Rumsonite, Ann T. Campanella, more recently of Red Bank, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 25, surrounded by loved ones. She was 95.

Ann was born in New York City on Aug. 25, 1927. She spent her early childhood there.

“In the 1930s, she ventured to her mother Catherine Halvey’s hometown and lived in County Limerick, Ireland, where she had fond memories of taking cart and pony rides to her neighbors’ homes on the Emerald Isle. When she returned to the states, she settled in New Jersey and attended Red Bank Catholic High School. Ann fell in love with Perry R. Campanella and his extensive Italian family that welcomed her with open arms. She married Perry in 1951 with whom she started a large family of her own. They had six children and raised them in Rumson …
At home, neighbors could recall her cruising the streets of Monmouth County behind the wheel of her silver Volkswagen Beetle with missing hubcaps. A lover of words with a great sense of humor, she hallmarked her own phrases, coined “Nanisms”, that ranged from expressions of joy to clever insults and just plain nonsense. Ann enjoyed music as much as she did books and travel. She rarely missed bingo day at the senior center, and she never failed to send a birthday card to her 19 grandchildren, whom she affectionately referred to as ‘grands,’ and her 12 great grands.
Loved ones of Ann Campanella in her obituary

An avid reader, Ann frequented the library. “She had a hunger for learning that never ceased” and earned her associate’s degree from Brookdale Community College. “She devoured mystery novels by the hundreds and continued to expand her mind with books up until her last days,” family said in her obituary.

Ann worked as a school secretary at Holy Cross Academy where her children were students and, “to their dismay, could seldom get away with mischief with their mom across the hall.” When her children were grown, Ann’s traveled explored places like Israel, Egypt, Rome, and Spain.

She was predeceased by: her husband, Perry R. Campanella; and, her daughter-in-law, Donna.

She is survived by: her loving children, Mike and his fiancé Heidi, Jack, Trish and her husband David, Perry, Paul and his wife Beth, Pete and his wife Mary Beth; and daughters-in-law Colleen and Michele.

A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, Jan. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Nativity, Fair Haven. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s memory may be made to a charity of the givers’ choice.

— Edited obituary prepared by family via Thompson Memorial Home