August 9, 1939 — March 23, 2026
Ann Marie (McManus) Morris, 86, beloved wife of the late Richard F. Morris and long-time resident of Reading, Massachusetts.
Vivacious Ann was a wonderful wife, mother, nana, daughter, sister, neighbor, and friend to many who will long cherish her.
Ann Marie was born on August 9, 1939, in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Frederick and Alice (Carnes) McManus, the 2nd of six siblings in a close-knit family. She spent her early childhood in Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts, before her family settled in Reading in 1949, when Ann Marie was 10 years old. Ann grew up and lived in Reading for more than 75 years. She attended Joshua Eaton and Parker Junior High and graduated from the new Reading Memorial High School in 1957, where her sunny disposition and endearing dimples served her well as a cheerleader and on their reunion committee. She also joined Junior Catholic Daughters at Saint Agnes, where she became its President and made many lifetime friends. After High School, Ann attended Pierce Secretarial School and enjoyed her career in banking and private industry from 1957 to 1971.
Ann was also happily married…twice. She met her 1st husband, Anthony J. “Toey” Santos, of Arlington and Long Beach, Gloucester, Massachusetts, through the SkiDaddler’s Ski Club in Bartlett, New Hampshire, in 1958. They married May 16, 1964, and lived in a small home in the woods at 48 Lafayette Road in Reading before he tragically drowned. As a 27-year-old widow, the devastated Ann moved home to become a ‘cellar dweller’ at her family’s home at 155 Forest Street, and greatly influenced her two younger siblings. On November 15, 1968, she married Richie Morris, another Spy Pond athlete and SkiDaddler. Richie and Ann raised their family of two kids adjacent to Reading Memorial High School, delighted in their four grandkids and 52 wonderful years of marriage until Richie’s passing in 2020.
After her first career, Ann become a super-mom to her son Rick (b. 1971) and daughter, Kerry (b. 1973). She was also heavily involved in Reading community service including co-founding Creative Arts for Kids; Young Women’s League, Scout leader and long-time Saint Agnes parishioner. Her compassion, high-energy and optimism perfectly matched her 2nd career as an Activities Director for the small Daniel’s Nursing Home in Reading (1981-2009). Since retirement, Ann enjoyed her adventures with Richie; daily walks; the Reading Garden Club and her own gardens; and keeping up with her big family and many friends – playing games, attending movies and theater, enjoying her Monday lunch bunch and her ‘happy place’ — her back deck in the sunshine.
Most assuredly, Ann Morris made the very most of her time ‘between her dash’ and lived her life fully, in high gear and with so much love. She was also a woman of great faith, who never missed mass or her nightly prayers. The greatest joy of her life was most certainly her family, especially her kids and four grandchildren whom she adored. Just last summer, at age 84 and a year after open heart surgery, she took them all on a fabulous 2 week cruise to Spain, Italy & France — and she never missed a thing.
Ann was the beloved wife of the late Richard F. Morris (7/27/1940 – 8/19/2020) and the late Anthony J. Santos (5/13/1938 – 6/26/1966). She is the devoted mother of Richard F. Morris Jr and his wife, Christina and Kerry (Morris) Kilduff and her husband, Matt. She is the cherished Nana of Luke and Phoebe Kilduff and Jake & Madeline Morris and her ‘practice grandkids’, James Gillum and Katie (Gillum) Kennedy.
Ann Marie is also the dear sister of the late Joan and Fred Doherty, Rheta and Ron Record, the late Fred McManus and his wife Judy, Kevin and Anne McManus, and Maureen and Kirt Gillum. Auntie ReRe will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by her dozens of nephews and nieces as well as her many dear friends and neighbors.
Visiting hours for Ann Morris will be held at Barile-Cota Family Funeral Home, 335 Park St. (corner of Park St. and Rte. 28) NORTH READING, at Reading line on Sunday March 29th from 3-6pm.
A Funeral Mass Celebrating Ann’s Eternal Life will be held at Saint Agnes Church, 186 Woburn St., Reading, on Monday March 30, at 10:30am. Interment will follow at Forest Glen Cemetery in Reading, Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers and remembrance of Ann’s life, the family suggests that donations be made to Mystic Valley Elder Services https://www.mves.org/donate-now/ or by referring to the link below.
