Obituary of Ann J. Parry

Ann Parry passed peacefully beside her loving family on September 30th, 2022, at Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. She was a strong, kind, and caring woman, as well as a devoted mother, and will be remembered fondly.

Ann was born on June 24th, 1929, to Florence and Pasqual Mancini in Newark, New Jersey. She spent her childhood there, alongside her sister, Lena, eventually graduating from West Side High school in 1947. She began a job at Prudential Financial insurance company where she had a manager who liked to play matchmaker from time to time. One New Year’s Eve, this manager set her up with another employee, George Parry, who needed a date to his family’s New Year’s party. On this first date, Ann met his parents, siblings, and everyone else in his family. Some would say that this would make a person run for the hills, but not Ann. The pair were married shortly after, on September 29th, 1956, and spent 52 wonderful years together.

Ann and George moved into their home in South Orange and raised 3 beautiful children, Catherine, Elaine, and Bob. They share memories of big holiday parties and spending quality time with their mother while she taught them about her different hobbies. Ann was very skilled with her hands and had an affinity for crafts involving embroidery, crochet, and even ceramics. Her daughter Elaine remarks that they once attended a ceramics class together when she was younger where they worked on a small ceramic cat, which she still has to this day. Aside from her creative talents, Ann was also a social butterfly who always made time for her friends, whether it be playing a game of cards or catching a Broadway show. Ann also loved to travel; a passion that George shared with her. The two spent their retirement years traveling not just the country, but around the world. When they wanted to stay local, they often organized trips for their retirement community in Whiting, New Jersey, that would load all the fun-loving residents into a bus and take them to so many awesome locations. She organized these so often, in fact, that whenever she wanted to take a trip with George, they would get a “frequent flier” discount. Ann was so active within her community and had such a beautiful commitment to her family that will never be forgotten.

While we are deeply saddened by Ann’s passing, we take comfort in knowing that her memory lives on through those who survive her; her children, Catherine Parry Varga (Robert), Elaine Parry Liggeri, and Robert Parry, her grandchildren, Chelsea Varga Sachs (Jake), Scott Varga (Cara), Trisha Hillman (Brandon), and Stephanie Liggeri, and her great-grandchildren, Bailey and Taylor Hillman. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers in the weeks to come.

Hours of public visitation for Ann are scheduled for Thursday, October 13th, from 3 to 7 PM at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Ave, Denville, NJ, 07834. A Funeral Mass is scheduled for Friday, October 14th, at 9:30 AM at Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel Church, 75 Ridgedale Ave, Cedar Knolls, NJ 07927, with a procession to follow to Gate of Heaven Cemetery directly after. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by way of www.inmemof.org to ensure receipt of your donation. Please light a candle, leave a condolence, or share your favorite memory of Ann here to continue to let her light shine.