Annette R. Dougherty A mother of 6 and the matriarch of a family that includes 22 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren, passed away Friday, May 28, 2004, at her home in the Rockford Park Condominiums in Wilmington, DE. She was 92. Annette died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her children. Annette was born on Christmas Eve, 1911 in Greenwich Village, New York City, NY, where her father, John F. Creedon of Dobbs Ferry, NY, was a veterinary student. Annette's mother was Anne Boslet Creedon of Blauvelt, NY. After graduation, Dr. Creedon took a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, moving his family to Newark, NJ and Washington, DC before settling in Delaware City in 1919. The family moved to Wilmington in the late 1920s and lived at 11th and Orange Apartments before moving to 21st and West Streets. Still, Annette and her sister, Eleanor, had many fond memories of Delaware City and returned several times a year over the last decade to visit their lifelong friends, Helen and Mary Brannan. Annette attended St. Peter's school and high school in Wilmington, and in 1932 married John. E. Dougherty of Henry Clay. The newlyweds lived in Brooklyn Terrace while building a home on Cedar Avenue in Roselle. There they raised 6 children and lived for almost 30 years. John and Annette, married 56 years, were lifelong parishioners of Saint Joseph on the Brandywine Church and their children all attended "Saint Joe's" school. Annette was preceded in death by her husband John; her brother ,John; and beloved son, Gerald Patrick. She is survived by her children, John E. of New Castle, Ann Armstrong and her husband, John, of Oak Orchard, Jane Hance and her husband, Lawrence "Skip", of Wilmington, Anthony and his wife, Kathy, of Napa, CA, Susan Bailey and her husband, Ben, of Vero Beach, FL; and her daughter-in-law, Barbara of Dewey Beach. Annette is also survived by her sister, Eleanor Fahey Quinn of Normandy Manor; and sister-in-law, Frances Creedon of Seagirt, NJ; as well as many nieces and nephews from the Creedon, Fahey and Dougherty families. Her family wishes to extend special thanks to Jane and Skip Hance for all their loving care which allowed Annette to remain in her own home, and to Charlotte Hearn, whose daily caregiving was a source of inspiration to everyone who witnessed it. A mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 4, at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church, 10 Old Church Road, Greenville. Calling hour will be after 9 am in the church followed by mass at 10 am. Burial will follow in the lower cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Delaware Hospice, Inc., 3515 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19810, who gently and skillfully helped Annette in her last weeks; or to Salesianum School, 1801 N. Broom Street, Wilmington, DE 19802. www.mealeyfuneralhomes.com 302-652-5913
---Published in The News Journal on May 30, 2004