Ann Presby Giammattei Schwing

December 23, 1931 – September 11, 2022

Born in Tarrytown, New York in 1931, Ann Presby Giammattei enjoyed a self-described "wonderful" childhood with her father Francis, mother Betsey and brothers David and Francis, Jr.  With an impish sparkle and mischievous sense of humor, Ann relished summers at the Jersey shore, baseball, driving, and Sunday matinee movies.  Always devout, her faith deepened upon conversion to Catholicism in her early 20's.

Ann's life had many travel adventures:  El Salvador, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Denmark – to name just a few.  Living abroad gave Ann a sense of freedom and provided a simpler life, which she greatly appreciated.

Ann's children were her treasures – Billy, Mary D., Heidi, Joe, Franzi, and Anton.  As a family, we all enjoyed many laughs and happy times.  Later, grandchildren (Sarah, Benedict, Peter, Chloe, Brendan, Isaiah, Madeleine, Richard, Charlotte, Jacob, Katya)  brought great joy to Ann's life, and, of course, her great-grandchildren (Shirin, Avin, Namo, Rasti, Sarah-Marie, Ganesh, Ronan, Liam) were the icing on the cake.

We, her family, feel lucky to have been blessed by a remarkable mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Oh God, give me clean hands clean words, and clean thoughts.

Help me to stand the hard right against the easy wrong.

Save me from habits that harm, teach me to work as hard and play as fair in thy sight alone as if the world saw.

Forgive me when I am unkind and help me to forgive those who are unkind to me.

Keep me ready to help others at some cost to myself.

Send me chances to do some good every day and to grow more like Christ.

Amen.

(written by Ann, in her own hand, in her prayer book, age 10)