Mary Anne Athanas

ATHANAS Mary Anne (Siwiec) Athanas, age 60 of Guilford, entered into rest peacefully on Friday, May 11, 2007 at St. Raphael's Hospital after a long illness, which she fought with great courage and determination. Born in Bridgeport to the late John and Mary (Andrejczyk) Siwiec, she is survived by her devoted husband and soul mate, Dale Athanas; her son, Jonathan Burke and wife, Laurie, of Meriden; sister, Sharon Colihan of Shelton; granddaughter, Danielle Burke of East Longmeadow, Mass.; niece, Jennifer Viglione; and great-nephew, Joey Viglione III of Huntington; in addition to several aunts, uncles and cousins and loving dogs, Pearl, Angel and Coco. Mary Anne celebrated life with her devoted passion in creating Angelwood Gardens at her home. Thousands have passed through the gardens during tours she hosted to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the Yale Discovery to Cure Program. She was past secretary (2002 to 2004) and past president (2004 to 2006) of the Leetes Island Garden Club. She was also president of Fox Ridge Services, Inc, an engineering recruiting firm. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the 4th floor nursing staff at St. Raphael's Hospital for their patient care and compassion during Mary Anne's final days. She will be sadly missed by all but will always be remembered for her love of family, friends, animals and nature and impeccable flair for interior decorating and garden design. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. George Church, 33 Whitfield St, Guilford on Tuesday, May 15 at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow in All Saint's Cemetery in North Haven. Friends may call on Monday, May 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Gillette Center for Women's Cancer's, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Attn: Ms. Caitlin Fay, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA.