July 8, 1942 – June 8, 2026
Anne M. Horrigan, age 83, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, surrounded by the love of family. She married the love of her life, James E. Horrigan, on June 29, 1963, and they were married for 29 years, until his passing from an illness on January 8, 1992.
Born on July 8, 1942, in Waltham, MA, Anne was the beloved daughter of Walter and Theresa Kearney. She grew up in Waltham, MA, and later made her home in Medford, MA; Reading, MA; North Reading, MA; and Fort Lauderdale, FL. She spent many summers at her second home in Falmouth, MA, where she enjoyed boating, hosting friends, and the beaches of Cape Cod.
Anne was known for her loyalty, kindness, strength, strong spirit, generosity, hospitality, and charity. She had high energy, being a busy mother of 3 children and running a small business, yet always had a suitcase packed for any impromptu trips! We loved that sense of adventure and her not wanting to miss out on any fun excursions. Her nickname was ‘the roadrunner,’ which fit her perfectly. Anne was also fondly known as ‘Grandma Boston.’
She enjoyed travel, food, boating, cooking, music, and being a very integral part of a family business called CEECO, Inc of Woburn, MA. She built that small business with her late husband and Navy Veteran James E. Horrigan. Her greatest joy was her family, and she treasured the time spent with her children, grandchildren, lifelong friends, nieces, nephews, and loved ones. When it came to music, she had some favorites like Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Blake Shelton, and Irish music.
Anne is survived by her 3 children, daughters Christine Marie Spitale and Paul S. Spitale of Clifford, MI, Cheryl Anne Iby and Eric Iby of Tewksbury, MA, and her beloved son James Michael Horrigan of Bristol, NH. She had 5 beautiful grandchildren: Gavin Robert Iby and Drew James Iby of Ft Lauderdale, FL, Paul S. Spitale, Jr of Fort Collins, CO, Joelle Marie Spitale of New City, NY, and Nicholas James Spitale of Clifford, MI. She was very proud and got so much joy spending time with her many nieces and nephews: Kelsey Kearney Hastings, Steven Kearney, Mary Alice Kearney Murphy, Denise Kearney Nault, Sandra Kearney Coker, Sherri Calnan, Joanne Kearney Franchi, and the late William Kearney. Cherished cousin of Joseph Horrigan, the late Denise Horrigan Sacco, the late John Horrigan, the late Barbara Horrigan Wilcox, Mary Horrigan Lawson, Kathleen-Ann Roberts, Steve, and James Mayo. Anne will be dearly missed by extended family and relatives in Prince Edward Island and across Canada.
She was preceded in death by husband James Edgar Horrigan of Reading, MA, her parents Theresa and Walter Kearney of Waltham, MA, brother John ‘Jack’ Kearney of Melrose, MA, and brother William Kearney of Waltham, MA.
The family would like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the kind caregivers at Meridian at Waterways Fort Lauderdale, hospice team at TrustBridge, and all those who provided comfort, support, and compassion over the past 2 years and during her final days. And, a special thank you to Claire Lively of Newburyport, MA, and Kelsey Hastings of Fort Lauderdale, FL, for the friendship, kindness, support, and fervent prayers for Anne and our family. Though she will be deeply missed, her love, strength, courage, and legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
A visitation will be held from 11 am-12 pm on Friday, June 19th, 2026, at the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St. in Reading. A Coming Home Service will follow from 12:00 pm-12:30 pm. A Graveside Service, to be held at Forest Glen Cemetery in Reading, will be held from 12:45 p.m. to 1 p.m. Family and friends are invited to attend and celebrate a life well lived. The family will be hosting a bereavement luncheon at Kitty’s Restaurant from 1:00- 4:00 at 123 Main Street in North Reading to follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Home for Little Wanderers in Boston, MA, at www.thehome.org
https://www.johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com/obituary/anne-horrigan
