Anna (Ferruggio) O'Brien
July 31, 1932 — February 1, 2015
Beloved wife of the late Dan O'Brien. Dear friend of the late John Hartman. Devoted mother of Jane Franczak (John) and the late Carol Ann Sauter (Michael). Loving sister of Rita Weaver, Edith Caruso, Victoria Hardin and the late Mary Hand, Jeanie Howard and Josephine Feige. Loving grandmother of Eric, Katie, Megan, Danny, Abbie and Ellie.
Anna, Naunie, Nauna, Anna Banana, Ann, Aunt Anna… whatever you may call her, she was unique! She loved life, her family, her friends, good food, St. Agnes Hospital, Rheb’s Chocolate, red wine and coffee. Nothing made her more proud than her children and her grandchildren.
Anna was one of the twins born to Pietro and Sabastiana Ferruggio. Her twin was named Mary. The family already had 4 girls. Her mother died 5 days later of a hemorrhage. Anna and Mary were kept at St. Martin’s orphanage for 2 years. Eventually, Pietro married Agnes. They had a child, yet another daughter, Victoria. The family lived in Hamilton, Maryland.
As a teen, Anna worked at the orphanage for several years. She had been a studying to be a nun (novice). The nuns recognized her love for children and her caregiver nature. They encouraged her to become a nurse and to pursue family life, instead of the convent.
Anna studied nursing at St. Agnes Hospital. She and her classmates had fun sneaking out of their dorm, going to parties downtown. She was on probation often while in nursing school. Most likely, it was for behavior, although she told her children that it was academic probation.
While working at St. Agnes, she met Evelyn Wall, a nurse 10 years her senior. Evelyn introduced Anna to her brother, Dan O’Brien, a handsome, southern man from North Carolina. The two dated for over 5 years. Dan wanted to marry, but Anna was troubled by Dan being Baptist while she was Catholic, a mixed union at the time. She also wished to enlist as a nurse in the Air Force before marriage. Anna was stationed in San Antonio, TX for 2 years. She received an honorable discharge to attend to medical needs of her twin sister, Mary. Over the next year, Dan convinced her that was time. They were wed in Baltimore, MD in 1963.
Anna and Dan had 2 children, Carol Ann (C.A.) and Jane Kathryn (Sassy). Nine months after Jane was born, Dan, who was a trunk driver, died when his truck collided on ice in a snowstorm. Despite the tragedy, Anna made the most of her life. She raised her two daughters with love and surrounded them with family, both hers and Dan’s.
Anna understood that balance was important for her life. She was just 35 years old and believed that it was important to go out and enjoy life without the children. She had many gentleman suitors and several marriage proposals.
At age 40, she met John Hartman, a medical doctor and the director of Jenkins Memorial nursing home. The two were seen at numerous social events in Baltimore, including the Engineers Club at Johns Hopkins. They went to cocktail parties, the theatre, the opera, the symphony, festivals, retreat and friend’s houses. John and Anna were dear friends who supported each other through the joys, trials, and hardships of life. John Hartman passed away in 2008.
Carol Ann, Anna’s oldest daughter was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at age 27. Carol (Sauter) stayed in Baltimore nearby Anna where they could be closely involved in each other’s lives. In 2012, Carol passed away leaving behind 3 children and her husband. Meanwhile, Jane travelled across the USA working as a physical therapist. In August 2014, Jane (Franczak) and her family moved back home to Baltimore. Anna, so saddened by the loss of Carol, once again, had a daughter nearby. The Sauters , Franczaks and Anna were very close, often going to Chef Paulino’s or the various cafes at Charlestown.
On 1/31/15, Anna fell in her apartment sustaining a subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage. She was taken to shock trauma in Baltimore. With her family by her side, she was escorted to Heaven’s gate, peacefully passing through just after midnight 2/1/15. She leaves behind a legacy of love, fun, charity, friendship, family and faith in God. She will be forever remembered here on earth by all of those with whom she encountered. It is with love and tears that we, her family, send her off to live forever with the Lord and those who have passed before her.
Anna, Naunie, Nauna, Anna Banana, Ann, Aunt Anna… whatever you may call her, she was unique! She loved life, her family, her friends, good food, St. Agnes Hospital, Rheb’s Chocolate, red wine and coffee. Nothing made her more proud than her children and her grandchildren.
Anna was one of the twins born to Pietro and Sabastiana Ferruggio. Her twin was named Mary. The family already had 4 girls. Her mother died 5 days later of a hemorrhage. Anna and Mary were kept at St. Martin’s orphanage for 2 years. Eventually, Pietro married Agnes. They had a child, yet another daughter, Victoria. The family lived in Hamilton, Maryland.
As a teen, Anna worked at the orphanage for several years. She had been a studying to be a nun (novice). The nuns recognized her love for children and her caregiver nature. They encouraged her to become a nurse and to pursue family life, instead of the convent.
Anna studied nursing at St. Agnes Hospital. She and her classmates had fun sneaking out of their dorm, going to parties downtown. She was on probation often while in nursing school. Most likely, it was for behavior, although she told her children that it was academic probation.
While working at St. Agnes, she met Evelyn Wall, a nurse 10 years her senior. Evelyn introduced Anna to her brother, Dan O’Brien, a handsome, southern man from North Carolina. The two dated for over 5 years. Dan wanted to marry, but Anna was troubled by Dan being Baptist while she was Catholic, a mixed union at the time. She also wished to enlist as a nurse in the Air Force before marriage. Anna was stationed in San Antonio, TX for 2 years. She received an honorable discharge to attend to medical needs of her twin sister, Mary. Over the next year, Dan convinced her that was time. They were wed in Baltimore, MD in 1963.
Anna and Dan had 2 children, Carol Ann (C.A.) and Jane Kathryn (Sassy). Nine months after Jane was born, Dan, who was a trunk driver, died when his truck collided on ice in a snowstorm. Despite the tragedy, Anna made the most of her life. She raised her two daughters with love and surrounded them with family, both hers and Dan’s.
Anna understood that balance was important for her life. She was just 35 years old and believed that it was important to go out and enjoy life without the children. She had many gentleman suitors and several marriage proposals.
At age 40, she met John Hartman, a medical doctor and the director of Jenkins Memorial nursing home. The two were seen at numerous social events in Baltimore, including the Engineers Club at Johns Hopkins. They went to cocktail parties, the theatre, the opera, the symphony, festivals, retreat and friend’s houses. John and Anna were dear friends who supported each other through the joys, trials, and hardships of life. John Hartman passed away in 2008.
Carol Ann, Anna’s oldest daughter was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at age 27. Carol (Sauter) stayed in Baltimore nearby Anna where they could be closely involved in each other’s lives. In 2012, Carol passed away leaving behind 3 children and her husband. Meanwhile, Jane travelled across the USA working as a physical therapist. In August 2014, Jane (Franczak) and her family moved back home to Baltimore. Anna, so saddened by the loss of Carol, once again, had a daughter nearby. The Sauters , Franczaks and Anna were very close, often going to Chef Paulino’s or the various cafes at Charlestown.
On 1/31/15, Anna fell in her apartment sustaining a subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage. She was taken to shock trauma in Baltimore. With her family by her side, she was escorted to Heaven’s gate, peacefully passing through just after midnight 2/1/15. She leaves behind a legacy of love, fun, charity, friendship, family and faith in God. She will be forever remembered here on earth by all of those with whom she encountered. It is with love and tears that we, her family, send her off to live forever with the Lord and those who have passed before her.
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