Anne Marie McLaughlin

Anne Marie McLaughlin passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 28, 2025 at the age of 92. The official cause of death is attributed to Anne Marie having completed a well lived and laugh-filled life and a deep desire to be reunited with family and friends who have preceded her in death.
Anne Marie was born in Wilmington, DE on March 27, 1933 to Anna M.(Desmond) and William F. McLaughlin, Sr. She was the first of six children raised at Front and Broom in Wilmington where the family attended St. Paul's Catholic Church.
Anne Marie graduated from St. Elizabeth High School in 1951 and continued as a faithful parishioner of St. Elizabeth's Church until her death. Following graduation from high school Anne Marie attended the St. Francis School of Nursing graduating in 1954. She worked as a Registered Nurse at St. Francis Hospital, the Visiting Nurses Association and the United State Postal Service.
In retirement Anne Marie enjoyed luncheons with her friends from high school and nursing school, time in Rehoboth Beach and Fenwick Island with family and visiting with the Benedictine Community in Ridgely, Maryland.
In her younger days Anne Marie and her close knit group of single girlfriends practically pioneered the concept of a "girl's trip", traveling near and far, drinking beer, smoking cigarettes and laughing non stop. They also were among the early Dewey Beach Weekend Warriors, renting houses for the summer and partying at the Starboard and Bottle & Cork. In addition to her friends Anne Marie remained close with her many cousins, in particular, the "Quinn Girls", Martina, Eileen, Rita and Tecy, and their families. Together they socialized and traveled most often led by her favorite Master of Ceremonies, Leonard Quill, Sr.
Anne Marie and her brothers and sisters enjoyed an especially close relationship – always coming together to celebrate occasions big and small and honoring the Irish tradition of gathering around the table to laugh, tell stories, and most importantly, to sing.
Anne Marie was a devoted daughter, sister, cousin and friend but she will be most joyously remembered as a beloved Aunt and Great Aunt. Her house in Cleland Heights was always open to her nieces and nephews for dinners, sleep overs, movie making and general mayhem. She shuttled us around in her iconic blue 1969 Volkswagon Bug often disregarding safety standards and cramming 10 or 11 of us in at a time for a quick trip around the neighborhood. She remained an integral part of her nieces and nephew's lives dividing her time, especially over the holidays, so she could share in the traditions of each family. Anne Marie readily embraced cell phone technology, seeing it as a way to keep in touch with her nieces and nephews and their children. She was an avid texter and followed along on Facebook and Instagram specifically to keep up with her great nieces and nephews. She loved seeing pictures of their lives and adventures and conversing via text.
In the last several years Anne Marie had begun to slow down a bit but she could always be dressed and ready to go out to lunch at a moment's notice! Her favorite spot was Cosmos Restaurant in Wilmington where she was on a first name basis with most of the staff. They treated her like family and waited patiently while she held court with friends, neighbors and other regulars. Anne Marie had overcome a number of medical setbacks in the last few years and always joked with her doctors, nurses and physical therapists that if she knew she was going to live so long she would have taken much better care of her body! Regardless, Anne Marie managed to live independently until very recently.
Anne Marie was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Paul McLaughlin and his wife, Mary, her brother Francis McLaughlin and his wife Judy, her sister, Sr. Anne Marie McLaughlin, OSB, her sister, Sr. Mary Paul McLaughin, OSB, her great nephew, Ronan McLaughlin, her nephew Billy McLaughlin, her niece, Eileen Pyle, her nephew Andy McLaughlin and her nephew Tom DeLisa. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law William and Mary Ann(Cleary) McLaughlin and her many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and 2 great great nieces.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Kentmere Nursing Facility for their attentive care as well as the many friends and extended family who lovingly visited, shuttled and helped care for Anne Marie. The family especially wishes to thank the Benedictine Community of Ridgely, Maryland and Newark, Delaware who cared for Anne Marie as she convalesced from surgeries and who always welcomed and included her as an honorary part of their community.
Anne Marie will be greatly missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing her but we will treasure our memories and will remember her in the spirit of her legendary sign off – Love and GBY.