Ann Holleran

Ann Holleran (Hingham, MA)

On most early summer mornings, you could find Ann Holleran with a cup of coffee happily working in her garden, pulling weeds, moving this perennial to that spot with just the right amount of sun, and feeding and nurturing the plants to their full potential. In life, just as in her garden, Ann warmly gave her love and attention to her family and friends, resulting in a lifetime of love and happiness. 

Ann Bernice Cummings was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 31, 1946, to Elizabeth Killoran Cummings of Sligo, Ireland, and William Cummings of Norton, New Brunswick. She, along with her five siblings, was raised in and forever proud of Cranston, Rhode Island. As an adult, Ann, with wide eyes and a big smile, would tell stories of her childhood on “Doric Ave” with her siblings, Kevin, Bill, Mary, Margaret, and Jim, and her hardworking Irish and Canadian extended family.

After a brief but earnest attempt at convent life (Ann did not enjoy the quiet), Ann’s lifelong interest in working with and bettering the lives of children began when she was hired as a Child Care Worker at St. Vincent’s Home in Fall River, Massachusetts, working alongside her little brother, Jim. It was also at St. Vincent’s that Ann met the love of her life, John Holleran, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, who pronounced the day that he met her that he would marry her. As luck would have it, Ann and John were bound for the same wedding the following month, where John deftly removed any doubts on Ann’s part as to the sensibilities of his proclamation, and they were married on August 22, 1971.

In the next eight years, Ann and John welcomed, Kara Elizabeth, Daniel John, and Brendan John, who they lovingly raised in Hingham, Massachusetts, and who they took every opportunity to visit their Fishkill, Narragansett, Cranston, St. John, Fall River, and Winchester cousins, aunts and uncles. These visits have blossomed to unbreakable bonds. In 1986, Ann and John grew the family and adopted in love Nancy and Silvia Pincov. Later on, Danny wed Mary Cogan and Silvia married Scott Fabrizio.

Managing the demands of a busy household, Ann earned a Masters in Social Work (with high honors) from Boston College at the age of 44. Shortly thereafter, she began working as a social worker at the John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Randolph where she brought her wisdom and love and training to improve the lives of the students there until she retired in 2014. Her MSW academically reinforced Ann’s instinctive and deep empathy for children and families.

“Granny Annie” loved to have fun with and (loudly) cheer on every accomplishment of her children and grandchildren, Thomas, James, Callie, Casey, Mia, Chloe, Liam, and Timmy. Her and Papa John’s adventures with them included sleepovers with Granny’s mac & cheese, convertible rides for Hornstra ice cream, and accidentally attending mildly inappropriate musicals (that the grandchildren enjoyed both the inappropriateness and Granny’s reaction!)

Through the whirlwind of work, responsibilities, raising children, and enjoying grandchildren, Ann always made time for good times and laughs with John, her family, and dear friends from every corner of her life. For what is life, according to Ann, if not a wonderful, mirthful journey with the ones you love. Although Ann left us on June 12, 2022, and our hearts ache for more time with our wife, mother, sister, aunty, granny, and friend, she planted the seeds of love and left a beautiful garden for all of us.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Tuesday 4-8 PM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), HINGHAM. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9 AM on Wednesday prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Paul’s Church, Hingham at 10 AM with a graveside service at High Street Cemetery. Cremation will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Ann may be made to The Lead Out Foundation https://tlofoundation.org/.