Ann M. Petti-Creegan

Ann M. (Taylor) Petti-Creegan, 83, of Rolfe's Lane, Newbury, formerly of Kissimmee, Florida and Delamont Avenue, North Attleboro, died unexpectedly on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at the Newton-Wellesley Hospital following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Ambrose T. Creegan who died on April 20, 1998 and was the former wife of the late Anthony J. Petti who died in 1993. Born in East Greenwich, Rhode Island on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1922, she was one of six daughters of the late Watson E. and Cora A. (Burdett) Taylor. She resided in North Attleboro from 1949 until 1999. She lived in Florida for five years before returning to Massachusetts and settling in Newbury to be close to her beloved family last September.

Mrs. Petti-Creegan was employed at Martin-Copeland in East Providence, Rhode Island prior to her retirement. She had also been a foreman for the former Univis Frame Company in North Attleboro for many years.

As a young woman, she was a talented softball player and in the early 1940’s was even scouted by the management team of "A League of Their Own."

She enjoyed ballroom dancing and the sounds of the Big Band and Swing eras. Mrs. Petti-Creegan taught her grandchildren how to swing dance. She was also an ardent swimmer and spent many summers in the sun with her family. Collecting family photographs and creating scrapbooks of family memorabilia was a favorite pastime. She created many memorable meals for holiday celebrations at her home, which was the family gathering place. The center of her life was her family and she treasured the time they spent together.

Her family recalls with fondness her devotion and dedication to her husband, Ambrose. Recently she enjoyed needlework and she was a lifelong Red Sox fan. She leaves three daughters: MaryLou Petti of Fairbanks, Alaska; Patricia Creegan-Lynch of Peabody, Massachusetts and Kathleen A. Kriegel of Byfield, Massachusetts; three grandchildren: Mark A. Creegan of Manhattan, New York; Meghan T. (Kriegel) Moore of Lowell, Massachusetts and Jedediah Kriegel of East Fishkill, New York and two sisters: Katherine Kingsbury of Kissimmee, Florida and Pearl Sherring of Carlsbad, California. She was the sister of the late Cora Brosnan, Pauline Mann and Jeannette DelPadre. She also leaves numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend and participate in a Service in Celebration of the Life of Mrs. Ann M. Petti-Creegan from 7-9 PM on Thursday, February 2, 2006. Light refreshments will be served. The service will take place at the Highland Country Club, 104 Mechanic Street, Attleboro. Take exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go RIGHT to Commonwealth Avenue, take a LEFT onto Freeman Street just after the Attleboro Falls Post Office - that becomes Clifton St., at end - turn LEFT onto West Street for 2 miles and turn right onto Berwick Road that becomes Mechanic Street.

Private burial will be in the Rhode Island Veteran's Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, Rhode Island. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Rosie's Place, 889 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118. To send the family an expression of sympathy, you may visit an on-line guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, 508-695-0200.