Mary A. "Anne" (Montanaro) O'Connell

94, of Johnston, RI, passed away peacefully at Rhode Island Hospital, on September 8, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of Ernest Thomas O’Connell. They were married for 73 years. Born in Cranston, she was the daughter of the late Frank A. Montanaro and Matilda (Cinquegrana) Montanaro. She is predeceased by a sister, Helen Harrison and a brother, Frank J. Montanaro. She leaves a sister, Angela DiRaimo and a brother, William Montanaro.

Besides her siblings and her beloved husband, she is survived by her children, William O’Connell and his wife Karin of Barrington, RI, Kathleen Straus of Lee’s Summit, MO, and Richard O’Connell and his wife Wendy of Cranston, RI. She was the loving grandmother of Christopher O’Connell, Michael O’Connell, Haley Higgins, Matthew Craven, Nicolas O’Connell and Max O’Connell. She was the cherished great-grandmother of Molly, Sarah, Emily, Blair, Bryn and Jaxon.

Anne studied secretarial science at Johnson and Wales College and spent most of her working career as a Senior Stenographer at both Rhode Island College and Rhode Island Community College. While working at the Community College, she served as president of the National Education Association (NEA) for many years. She was a very civic-minded individual, having served as a delegate to the Democratic Convention and as Democratic National Committee Chairwoman for the State of Rhode Island. Anne loved to travel and had been all over the world with her dear husband Ernie, but more than anything else, she enjoyed spending time with her family, whom she loved greatly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 11:00 am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 237 Garden Hills Dr, Cranston, RI 02920. Family may visit the morning of the Mass from 9:30 -10:00 at Nardolillo Funeral Home, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston, RI 02910. Burial will be private.