"Watch Carefully the magic that occurs when you give a person enough comfort to be themselves"
-Atticus Finch, [Harper Lee]
  I know my words come late but I have found it emotionally difficult to ponder and I just felt like if I was gonna get anything close to perfect I wanted it to be this. So I have written and deleted many things regarding Anne until I recently found that quote.  I don’t want anyone to misunderstand how that quote regards Anne so please don’t assume Anne was a person who needed room or “comfort” to shine. She always shined bright like a winter sunrise and soft and comforting like a late summer sunset. To me that quote characterizes a large part of Annes character and it’s relationship to the world around her.
   She was person who rather than challenging me to be myself sacrificed and shared parts of her world giving me the “comfort “ and attention which she somehow knew I needed to be the the person I wanted to be and was comfortable with; a better version of myself, helped me grow. That was the “ magic” that Anne could make and I REALLY mean it. Now regarding the source , if that makes me Boo Radley and Anne Scout and Jem then I am happy because if any one in this world ever read that book and instantly felt for old Boo; well that would be Anne, heck he maybe even was her favorite character. Now if that alone doesn’t make you want to love Anne, then one of us doesn’t get it or her.
I know I cant be the only one she did this for , because The more I think about it the more I think she may have been a true empath and one whose nature it was to give from her abundance of HEART. Hindsight being 20/20, I believe she could slip a roomful of people into an indefinable ease of mood either with her mere presence or just a few kind words whispered in private or dropped in conversation. ( without us ever understanding the gift she just gave us over and over)This must have helped many people be themselves at a time in our lives (college) when that was both hard and important. Thank You Anne for that gift. You gave much of your self. I pray I remembered to understand it at the time and thank you ( but like so many at that time I hardly understood what was happening to me let alone what helped me.)However I did know how special you were.
   This way, I can at least thank your parents and your family for creating the events that allowed you to be who you were as well as express my most sincere condolences; this is not fair and I am so angry. I just read some anecdotal information about how much pain and discomfort she was in. That makes it hard not to take it personally because this series of maladies seemed to attack Anne right where she lived I.e. she was not a person to be permanently convalesced , because this world is always going to be in desperate need for more women like Anne( so to her nieces please ,be like her you will probably find that it is already coming easy to you.). Also it seemed like because of-the rarity of her illness modern medicine did not allow her much of a chance to fight back and robbing her of the simple mechanical abilities that allowed Anne to be "Anne",So Yeah Every time I come to this site I am both hurt by her pain and charmed once again by Annie, charmed that is, by learning of the sheer multitude of lives you touched in such a meaningful way. Anne, I always felt so close to you despite only knowing you for a relatively short time. So when I read that quote I found myself realizing that this was the only one of the many gifts you you gave to us all, that I needed to illuminate. To me this was the gift that helped me understand why I always knew there was something golden in and around you. I think it was in your nature to be stubbornly, uncommonly and uniquely selfless. While I know this was was only one the many amazing things which characterized Anne Berry. I feel it not only anchors you among good and saintly company forever but also it is a part of you that will live on in me and others forever; you had an effect on this world. Thus making you eternally rare. I love you Anne. …… well Annie sometimes I can’t help but think of you ,and it’s hard to look at those photos , every time I see them, though they get very bitter Sweet and I hope that you remembered me as a sentimental person there’s always space for you in my little sappy lil ‘ heart I wish I had something better or more profound to say but all I can say is I was thinking a little bummed, so I thought I’d check this out and send you a note , love always, Pete

My deepest sympathies to the Berry family. Anne didn’t have it easy with her health issues, but lived, loved and was loved by many. She was quirky, funny and kind, and as all the pictures show she was always smiling. To me she always seemed to have an old soul and could connect with anyone. Words really can’t explain her or the tough road she was given. I’m very sorry that I can’t attend her memorial as I will be attending my God daughter’s baptism on the same day. I will raise a glass to her and remember the great times we had.

I will always remember Anne with such love. She could walk into a room and her smile would light it up. Here kindness and sense of humor were so endearing. She loved experiencing life and finding meaning and compassion in her journey. Her family...Lou, Bob, Jill and Ellen have been the definition of what family is and does. May she watch over all of us as we struggle to find our places in a world without her. Love to her family.

The entire Berry family was such an important part of my life since our Glen Ayre Swim and Tennis Club days in grade school. Through high school, college, post college, weddings, and today-the entire family has been part of who I am. I will always remember Ann's angelic beauty, sweet disposition, smile a mile wide and sense of peace. Even when she was smashed in the back of Mary Lou's station wagon as a million kids piled in the car from one activity to the next, Ann had a sense of peace that I noticed even when I was very young. I remember I used to think about how cute and calm and happy she always seemed to be. This was usually after I had just thrown my tennis racquet across the court and had an impatient fit of some kind... Even though I was not able to see Ann for many years, Ellen and my sister Connie told me that Ann carries this peace every day. She taught me something and I will continue to strive to achieve that inner acceptance. Thanks Ann, I love you and know you are with us. Love, Christy xoxoxo

I didn't know Anne personally but I could tell from these pictures that she was a beautiful soul and had an amazing smile that would light up a room!  My dear friend Bob, her father took such great care of her these last difficult years- it has been so hard on him; no one should ever have to bury a child!  He truly loves his daughters and his grandchildren. My heart aches for all of you- Bob, Mary Lou, Ellen and Jill you all have my deepest condolences; many prayers and hugs! May Anne finally Rest In Peace!

If you grew up in Glen Ellyn in the 70s and 80s, you knew of the Berry girls. Super fun. Super cute. Super smiles, As a teen, I loved hanging out at the Berry house. And not just because we could get away with things, truth be told we managed to get away with things at most of our houses... At Ellen's house, we taught ourselves to drive, penned some songs with questionable lyrics..and hosted a party or two for our friends... And then there was baby sister Anne. So dear and sweet and good. To me, she was the angelic one. Even at that young age, you could see that she posessed a grace and a light. Even today, I can see her face perfectly in my mind's eye. Hugs and kisses to you dear Anne as you start your next chapter.

I remember Annie as a really fun Aunt to Madison and Abbey. I loved the way her face lit up when they came flying into the kitchen with a fun story of their day. I especially remember Annie helping them get ready to Trick-or-treat, she was so excited for them. Annie was a sweet soul.

To Anne:
I remember you as a shy, beautiful girl... a sensitive soul. Just from looking at pictures of your life I get a sense of your beautiful spirit. Here's to you Anne Berry.. a life well lived, a path completed here but living on forever.

I light a candle for you. So that you will continue to have light and so that someday I will be able to find my friend again.

Fare well, Annie!!! I will certainly miss our lovely chats and your gentle spirit. Thanks for the seriously fun times! I met some wonderful people with and through you, Anne Berry. A true gem. Always thankful and appreciative of life, the last thing she said to me a few weeks ago was "Thank you, Universe." Love you and see you in my dreams, Annie! XO

I'm leaving a flower for Anne to smell on the way. (A bottle of wine for when she arrives).