Anna Catherine Reppermund (nee Curran) of Howell, New Jersey passed away peacefully on Friday, November 12, 2021, at the age of 81 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
Anna is survived by her husband of 61 years, James; her daughters Laura Yilmaz, also of Howell, and Suzanne Fitzgerald of Frederick, MD; 4 grandchildren, Dr. Amanda Lettis Anderson of New Castle, DE; Emily Fitzgerald of Highland, MI; John (Jack) Fitzgerald of Frederick, MD and Cayton Fitzgerald of Boston, MA; and her sister Patricia Ruma of Toledo, OH. Anna had 2 great grandchildren, Griffon and Mae Anderson.She was pre-deceased by her mother, Mary Margaret Curran.
Born in Harrisburg, PA in 1940, Anna grew up in Akron, OH.She attended Carnegie Mellon University and completed her degree in Education at Middle Tennessee State University.Her professional passion was teaching.She began her career in 1963 teaching 5th grade at a rural school in Culleoka, TN.When the family relocated to New Jersey in 1977, she began teaching mathematics at Lakewood High School in Lakewood, NJ. She continued her own education earning her Masters degree + 30 credits from Jersey City State College. She loved seeing those “a-ha” moments when a student finally understood whatever difficult concept she was teaching.She retired in 2005 after 42 years.
Whether sitting around the house, or travelling to amazing places, her greatest joy was being surrounded by her family. She was an incredible and devoted mother and grandmother.She was generous, funny, loving and kind – the matriarch of the family.Our time with her was filled with love and laughter. She spoiled us with her time, her stories, her pies, and most of all, her love. She was a fan of old movies and never missed an episode of Jeopardy. Her generosity of spirit defined each season, especially Christmas which was her favorite holiday.She never missed a family event, in fact, she inspired them.Every opportunity to get together to see her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren was her constant focus and delight.
She will live on in us forever and we will miss her eternally.
