Ann Marie O'Donnell

O'DONNELL Anne Marie O'Donnell, age 70, of Fairfield, died on January 6, 2012, at St. Vincent's Medical Center. A daughter of Bridgeport, she was born there on June 10, 1941, to the late Charles and the late Madeleine (Hanley) O'Donnell, moving with her family to Manhasset, New York, during her teen years. She completed her college degree, obtained her teaching credential and began her 40-year career as an elementary school teacher in New York State. After a number of years, Anne returned to the Bridgeport/Fairfield area to teach kindergarten at William Samuel Johnson Elementary School, now functioning as Park City Magnet School, North Campus. She retired in 2009 after 40 years of whole-hearted dedication to the education of young children. Anne was descended from a Bridgeport family which has provided educators for Bridgeport children for nearly 100 years. Her father was prominent in the banking industry, but her Bridgeport-born mother was an elementary school teacher. Anne was the beloved granddaughter of the late John and the late Mary (Giblin) Hanley of Bridgeport. She was pre-deceased by her great-aunt Ella Hanley and her aunt Dorothy E. Hanley, both of whom were elementary school teachers in the Bridgeport public schools, Dorothy having served as the principal at Prospect School and Waltersville School. She is survived by her admiring brother, John, and sister-in-law, Martha (Morris) O'Donnell, of Los Angeles, CA, her beloved niece Karen O'Donnell Stein of Portland, OR, and beloved nephew Nicholas O'Donnell of (the original) Vancouver, WA, delightful grandniece Madeleine Stein, 13, and three grandnephews: the ever-inquisitive Nathan Stein, 8, playful Cale O'Donnell, 5, and toddling Ellis O'Donnell, 2, as well as scores of worshipful former students, their thankful parents and respectful fellow teachers. Finally, she is survived by her devoted Boxer companion, two-year-old Couvo, who, having this week been adopted by Nicholas and Karen, has just completed a cross-country trip in the belly of a plane, arriving somewhat bewildered at the Washington State residence of Ellis, a fellow two-year-old, and Cale, and is soon to meet Nathan and Madeleine, all of whom welcome him with gratitude. Anne's cherished pet will continue in his new home to enrich with her love the lives of the current children of our family, as she did the lives of Nicholas and Karen, her brother's children. We will all miss Anne greatly. Visitation for family and friends will be from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, January 13, 2012, at the Spear-Miller Funeral Home, 39 South Benson Road, Fairfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will commence at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012, at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Road, Fairfield. Interment will follow immediately at St. Michael's Cemetery, 2205 Stratford Ave. in Stratford. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anne's memory may be made to St. Steven's Pantry, c/o Debbie Stokes, 43 Madison Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06604, (203) 367-9036 or to Bridgeport Rescue Mission, 1088 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, CT, (203) 333-4087. For information or to leave an on-line condolence, please visit www.SpearMillerFuneralHome.com.