Anna Marie Williams passed away at home on March 4, 2007 surrounded by her family. Born in Syracuse, NY on February 23, 1943, she was a 1961 graduate of St. John the Evangelist High School and received her degree in Dental Hygiene in 1964 from the Erie County Technical Institute. At the time of her death, Anna Marie was a resident of Huntersville (Charlotte), NC, having relocated there with her husband, Donald in 2003. Prior to that, the Williams spent many years in Westchester County, NY and Danbury, CT. Most recently Anna Marie was an active member of the North Mecklenburg County Women's Club, the Red Hat Society and the St. Mark's Catholic Church Prayer Group. Anna Marie was particularly involved with the Prayer Shawl Ministry within the prayer group, teaching many of the members to knit, in addition to knitting several prayer shawls herself to give to the sick and dying. Although she battled cancer on and off throughout her adult life, Anna Marie remained a sincere optimist, devoting her life's energy to her family and those less fortunate than herself. Her quiet strength, spirituality and selflessness were an example to all who knew and loved her, and her spirit lives on in the love that she inspired through the care she took of her family, and the time she committed to the organizations she belonged to. Anna Marie's door was always open, ready with a hot meal, a warm bed and a cupboard full of dental floss and toothbrushes. We are blessed for having had her-Little A, Mom, Sis, Auntie-with us for the time that we did, and will find a way to smile and laugh again, in time. Anna Marie Williams is previously deceased by her parents, Dominick Falcone II (1990) and Adeline Falcone (2003). She is survived by her devoted husband of 40 years, Donald F. Williams III; three children, Cathy Williams, Donald F. Williams IV (Nicole Williams) and Darcy Nealis (James R. Nealis); three beautiful granddaughters, Mackenzie and Breck Nealis and Ella Nicole Williams; two brothers, Dominick (Dick) Falcone III (Lucille Falcone) and Joseph D. Falcone; sister-in-law, Torre Gieselman (Walter Gieselman); as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Calling hours will be held Thursday, March 8, 2007 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the PIRRO & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 514 Turtle St., Syracuse. Funeral services will begin Friday, March 9, 2007 at 8:45 a.m. at Pirro & Sons, followed by a 9:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Pompei Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation, PO Box 442, Needham, MA 02494, www.accrf.org

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