Obituary: Edna F. Anness, 85, Teacher, Girl Scout Troop Leader

Edna F. Anness, 85, wife of Lowell H. Anness, passed away on Tuesday, March 11th, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Daniel T. and Edna (McCoart) Graham.

Growing up in Rumford, RI, she attended school in East Providence and later graduated from Classical High School in 1946 and Brown University in 1950. She later earned her Master's degree in conservation in 1987 from the University of Rhode Island and was elected to Omicron Nu National Honor Society. She taught at the Platt School for six years in Riverside, RI and spent one year teaching for Creole Petroleum Corp. in Venezuela. She was Neighborhood chairman of Rumford Girl Scouts and served as a troop leader. She was active in the Rumford Junior Women's Club serving as President. She helped co-found the East Providence Citizen's Scholarship Committee and served one year as President. She served on the East Providence Beautification Committee for one year and recently on the Historic District Commission.

She was a charter member of the East Providence Historical Society and after working at the John Brown House for one year she founded and organized the Hunt House Museum in 1989. She was a volunteer Docent at the John Brown House for ten years. For three years she authored articles on East Providence history for the East Providence, Post. She and her husband ran Rumford Antiques in West Dennis on Cape Cod since 1976 and in their retirement, traveled to six continents. Mrs. Anness leaves three children; Walter Anness and Carolyn Donahue both of Rumford and Betty Anness of Seattle, WA and four grandchildren; Elizabeth and David Donahue of Rumford and Emily Anness of Rumford and Gregory Anness of Warren.

A funeral will be held on Wednesday, March 19th, at 11:00 AM in the Church of The Epiphany, 1336 Pawtucket Ave., Rumford. Calling hours are Tuesday 4-7 PM, in the J.H. WILLIAMS & CO. FUNERAL HOME, 210 Taunton Ave., East Providence. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to East Providence Historical Soc. Hunt House, 65 Hunts' Mill Rd., Rumford, RI 02916.