Obituary of Anna C. Wise

Anna Catherine Wise passed away on January 23, 2025 in Vassar Brothers Medical Center after a long illness.

Ann was born on June 4, 1932 in her grandparents’ farmhouse in Somerset, Pennsylvania. She was the oldest of four children born to Lena and John McKelligott.  She moved with her parents to Corinth, New York where her sister Shirley McKelligott Stewart (deceased) and two brothers William (Patty) of Bolivia, and Michael of Corinth, were born years after.

Ann loved and excelled in music. She majored in music at Potsdam University. She played the piano and violin as well as sang in the chorus. She continued that love throughout her life and participated in community choirs and orchestras until her health forced her to stop performing.  

She met her husband Fred on a blind date and married in 1952. They were married for 66 years, Fred preceded her in death in 2009. Ann and Fred moved to Poughkeepsie where they lived for 5 five years and eventually moved to Wappingers Falls in 1958. She is the mother of 3 children Carolyn Mills (Joe) of Newark, Delaware, John Wise (Rita) of Panama City, Florida, and David Wise of Wappingers Falls, New York. She is the grandmother of 4 children, Twila Dozier of Panama City, Florida, Megan Jones (Michael) of Millington, Maryland, Joseph Mills (Noelle) of Milton, Delaware, and Cameron Mills (Brooke) of Wilmington, Delaware. She has 8 great grandchildren Justin and Joshua Dozier (Twila), Charlotte, Georgia, Felicity and Elliot Jones (Megan), and Hazel and Emma Mills (Joseph). Her generous and loving support of her family was her priority. Any time they needed help; she responded quickly with love and understanding.

She worked at Tau Labs followed by many years at IBM. Her smile and sense of humor will forever echo in the hearts of everyone that knew her. She was ahead of her time as a strong independent woman who lived her life on her terms.

Ann loved volunteering and contributed many hours in support of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Meals on Wheels, Veteran organizations, the Lunch Box of Duchess County, and several committees for the New Hackensack Reformed Church where she has been a member for over 20 years.

She made lifelong friends in Wappingers including the Pace, Roe, Petvai, and Brennan families. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Marion McGowan of Mechanicsville NY, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on February 8, 2024 at the New Hackensack Reformed Church, 1580 Route 376 in Wappingers Falls with visitation at 10:30 and services at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the Lunch Box of Dutchess County.  https://dutchessoutreach.org/how-you-can-help/donate/

Arrangements are under the direction of Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street in Wappingers Falls. To send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.