Ann Hennessy

Born and raised in Baltimore, Ann Hennessy of Rock Hall, MD died on September 4, 2008 at her home. She was the oldest daughter of the late, Leroy J. and Nellie L. Ziegler Hennessy. She graduated from the College of Notre Dame and taught school in Baltimore County. After her marriage she lived in the Ellicott City area of Howard County. She earned graduate degrees from John Hopkins University and Loyola College and practiced Counseling and Psychotherapy in Columbia, MD. She founded the first La Leche League Chapter in Howard County and was active in a number of organizations including the Columbia Cooperative Ministry, Howard County Peace Action Community and the Howard County Poetry and Literature Society. In 1986 she moved to Rock Hall in Kent County, MD and maintained her counseling practice there until 2008. During that period she was active in the Chester Valley Ministers Association, where she initiated the first county-wide Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast, annually attended by close to 400 people. She also organized peace vigils. Ann Hennessy is a member of the Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River, where she served on the board and several committees. She served as president of the Kent County Human Relations Commission and was a member of the NAACP. A published author, she is the coordinator of the Chester River Writers and until recently wrote a column for the Kent County News. Besides writing, her interests include gardening, reading, attending plays and concerts and involvement in community activities. Dr. Hennessy is survived by daughters, Mary Nell Myers and husband, Milton Myers of Ellicott City; Kathleen Romanik and husband, Vincent Romano of Ellicott City; Christina Romanik and husband, Paul Parnell of Roanoke, VA; and Clare Romanik and husband, Armen Kanayan of Washington DC, currently residing in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; 11 grandchildren, Taejon Myers of Baltimore, Amelia and Ted Myers of Ellicott City; Ryan, Rebecca and Jeremy Romanik-Romano of Ellicott City; Emily and Maria Parnell of Roanoke, VA, and Anahit, Raffi and Ruben Kanayan of Washington, DC and Bishkek Kyrgyzstan. She was predeceased by a son, John Leroy Romanik and former husband, John Romanik. Also survived by two sisters, Mary Sladek and husband, Stan of Cockeysville, and Rosemary Hofherr of Sparks, MD; five nieces and nephews and beloved friend, Emory “Pie” Edwards of Rock Hall. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service at the Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company on Friday, September 12th at 11:00 am, followed by a lunch. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of the following organizations, Unitarian Universalists of the Chester River, 914 Gateway Drive, Chestertown, MD 21620; Chester River Home Care and Hospice, 6602 Church Hill Road, Suite 300, Chestertown, MD 21620 or Rock Hall Volunteer Fire Company, 21500 Rock Hall Avenue, Rock Hall, MD 21661.

Ann Hennessy

December 28, 1929 - September 4, 2008