A loving wife and mother who enjoyed singing at Brooksby Village
FALMOUTH — Anna E. “Ann” Brodbine, 92, of Falmouth and formerly of Lynnfield and Peabody, died Monday, Aug. 16, 2021 at Artis Senior Living in Lexington.
Born in Lynn on Sept. 11,1928, she was the daughter of the late John and Josephine (Niebrzydowski) McLaughlin.
Anna graduated with highest honors from Regis College to become an elementary school teacher. After her marriage to John Brodbine, Ann turned her attention to raising seven daughters, but remained active in her church and community. She taught catechism, hosted bridge parties and honed her infamous discount shopping skills – that particular talent was passed down to all her girls. In her 40s, Ann went back to school, obtained a master’s degree from Salem State University, and became a regular substitute teacher in Lynnfield Public Schools.
Anna had many interests – spending summers on the Cape in Falmouth, doing The New York Times crossword puzzle, and cheering on (or cursing) the Red Sox and Patriots – but nothing brought as much joy as singing. She drew great crowds on Friday nights at Brooksby Village in Peabody, where she resided before Artis. She loved traveling to visit her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Anna was the beloved wife of the late atty. John James Brodbine, with whom she shared 60 years of marriage. She was the loving mother of Susan Viator of Huntington Beach, California; Colleen and her husband, Dr. Harvey Boyarsky, of Laguna Niguel, California; Elizabeth and her husband, professor Ahmed Ghoniem, of Winchester; Anne and her husband, Scott Healy, of Sudbury; Tricia and her husband, Harrison Whitehead, of Franklin, Tennessee; atty. Ellen Brodbine of San Francisco, California; and MaryBeth and her husband, Alec Hitchcock, of Phoenix, Arizona and Dungarvan, Ireland. She is also survived by her sister Jacqueline Gouse of Richardsville, Virginia. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren with another on the way.
A private interment took place at Forest Hill Cemetery, Lynnfield. Arrangements were in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m. at St. Maria Gorett Church in Lynnfield. For more details, people may reach the family at sevengirls1@msn.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverly Oaks Rd., Waltham, MA, 02452 or to Regis College, Office of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations, 235 Wellesley Street, Box 30, Weston, MA 02493.
