ANN MARIE PETRONE

1962 - 2015

Petrone , Ann Marie 53, of Concord, Massachusetts, beloved wife of James Eastland, died on July 11th at their home in Concord after a long battle with cancer. The daughter of Mary (Petrone) Jones and the late Donald Petrone, Ann was born June 2, 1962 in Brockton, Mass and raised in Whitman, Mass. A 1980 graduate of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School, Ann earned her B.F.A. from Tufts University in 1984. Ann's first job after college was at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where she was in the Photographic Services Department. In 1988, she joined Skinner Auctioneers and Appraisers as Assistant to the Director of Americana. After apprenticing for several years, Ann became an Americana Specialist, appraising, researching, and cataloging American Decorative Arts. Ann also eventually became the Director of Rare Books and Manuscripts. A long time film buff, Ann changed careers in 1998, joining the staff of documentary filmmaker, Errol Morris. After a series of progressively responsible positions, she became Co-Producer and Lead Researcher. She traveled across the country researching collections at archives, museums and libraries. Ann often spent weeks at a time at the National Archives. She was most proud of her work on the film, The Fog of War, which won the 2003 Academy Award for Best Documentary. Ann also researched and edited books for Mr. Morris including Believing is Seeing, a New York Times bestseller and 2011 notable book of the year. Ann's love of history and archival research extended to personal projects such as genealogy. Ann was a member of the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants (Thomas Rogers and Stephen Hopkins lines of descendants). As much as Ann enjoyed her work, her greatest joy came from spending time with family and friends. She truly loved her little, brick house in Concord and the Colonial history of the area. She even took the classes and earned the certificate to be a tour guide. Ann's final gift to herself and to all of us was her beautiful wedding to James in June. A couple of weeks before the wedding, she and her closest friends enjoyed an afternoon tea party while boating along the Sudbury River. The weather was perfect, as it was again on June 14th for the wedding. Bright, white tents surrounded the tree in the back yard of the brick house. A string trio greeted the guests. Many of the women wore hats, as if to an English Garden Party. The ceremony, the catered delicacies, the flowers, the music, the family and friends; it was Ann's dream made real, and she had a smile as wide as the brim of her handmade hat. Ann is survived by her husband, James Eastland, her mother, Mary Jones of Brockton, her sister, Cheryl Petrone of Concord, her nephew, Mickey Barr of Cambridge, her step-daughters, Alexandra and Susan, and a wide circle of friends. She was preceded in death by her step-father, Walter Jones of Brockton. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, July 18th at 10 am in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center. Burial will follow in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord. Following the committal service, there will be a collation at the Colonial Inn in Concord Center. At Ann's request, there will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the MGH Cancer Center at Emerson Hospital, 133 Old Rd to Nine Acre Corner, Concord, MA 01742. To share a remembrance in her online guestbook, please visit www.deefuneralhome.com. Dee Funeral Home of Concord 978-369-2030 Caring for families since 1868