Obituary of Anna Rose Auth

Anna Rose Auth passed peacefully on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 surrounded by her loving children.  She shared 94 years of love and faith with all who knew her. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 21^st at 10 am at St. Mary’s Church, 15 Myers Ave, Denville.  Interment to follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.  Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, December 20^th from 4-7pm at the Norman Dean Home For Services, Denville. 

Anna Rose (known as Ann) was the 11^th of twelve children born  to the late Francesco and Raffaela Sicurello.  After high school, she attended St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Pittsfield, MA, where she graduated as a registered nurse in 1946. She was dedicated to her profession, starting her career in the hospitals, then as a visiting nurse, and finally as a school nurse for the Irvington BOE. As a young nurse working full-time, she took evening classes and earned a B.S. in public health from Seton Hall University, and later took graduate courses toward an M.A.   She met Frank “Hank” Auth at a ballroom dancing class, where they loved dancing the Lindy jitterbug together. They courted and were married in 1954. They moved to Vailsburg, where they started their family.  Ann and Hank were raised during the Depression and valued hard work, honesty, perseverance (“where there’s a will, there’s a way”), a job well done, and making do and appreciating what they had. One of Ann’s favorite expressions was “Take what you have, begin where you are, and make the most of it.” They sacrificed and worked hard to make a beautiful home and life.  They moved to East Hanover, Toms River, and finally Denville, making dear friends along the way. Following their retirement, the couple traveled often.  Ann planned wonderful trips with memories to last a lifetime.  In the past few years, she has stayed active at the Oaks with various activities.  Ann and Hank were well known and admired for their dancing at parties. She enjoyed reading (serious fiction, poetry, and mysteries), classical music and opera, dining out, and was a parishioner of St. Mary’s.   Above all, she loved being with her family.  She was a wonderful mother and a doting grandma.  The sun rose and set on her family and she was so very proud of them.  Although we are saddened by her passing, we take comfort in knowing she is reunited with her dear Hank for Christmas.

Predeceased by her husband Frank (2008) and her eleven siblings; she leaves happy memories to her children Debbie Butler (Dennis)  Stephen Auth (Evelyn), Cathy Auth, Joan Tomczyk (Jim); her grandchildren Richard, Michael, Brendan, and Mackensia and many more dear relatives and friends.