Ann Martha Gillespie

Ann M. Gillespie was born on June 3, 1929 in Cincinnati, Ohio and she passed away peacefully on December 5, 2020 at 6PM surrounded by her loving family. She was 91 wonderful years old and still mentally sharp right up to the time of her stroke. She was the beloved wife of Arnold E. Gillespie (deceased) with whom she had 45 rich years of marriage until his passing in 2001. She was a devoted daughter, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and sister and had countless friends who were blessed by her charitable and loving spirit. Anyone who met Ann was touched by her kindness, her boundless generosity, her radiant smile, her infectious laughter, her sweetness, her delightful sense of humor, her sincerity, and her remarkable faith. She is preceded in death by her husband, Arnie; her parents, Arthur C. and Marghareta Kemner; her sister-in-law, Sharon Kemner; and son-in-law, Charles V. Boswell, Jr. She is survived by her brother, Michael Kemner (wife, Kathleen Kemner); her five children, Constance Boswell (husband, Charles Boswell [deceased]), Kathleen Kennedy (husband, Gregory Kennedy), Michael Gillespie (wife, Susan Huffman), Mark Gillespie (wife, Tracy Maguire), and Lisa Gillespie (husband, James Beauchamp); her grandchildren, Jennifer Taylor (husband, Scott Taylor), Julia Murphy (husband, Jeffrey Murphy), Jeffrey Boswell (wife, Ola Boswell), Jaclyn Boswell, Jeremy Boswell, Gregory Kennedy (wife, Zuzana Kennedy), Amy Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, Joshua Kennedy, Olivia Loboda, Morgan Gillespie, Dru Maguire Gillespie, and Brian Huffman. She is further survived by two great grandchildren, Benjamin and Charlotte Taylor; her niece, Elizabeth Bloodsworth (husband, Charles); and nephews, Michael Kemner (wife, Georgia), Rudy, Glenn, and James Gillespie. As a young woman, Ann worked for the Cincinnati Waterworks as a clerk and, ever the adventurer, moved by herself to Arlington Virginia where she shared an apartment with several other ladies. She landed a job at the CIA as a punch card operator working on early IBM equipment. In 1956, Ann and Arnold (a Navy veteran) met at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Alexandria and their romance began and through the years they never missed an opportunity to show off their dancing skills and these two really knew how to cut a rug! After their brief courtship, they were married on September 15, 1956 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia and their unyielding devotion to one another, to their family, and to their community was the cornerstone of their lives. Arnold and Ann raised five children and built a successful small business, Gillespie’s Mobile Court in Waldorf, Maryland where they also made their home. Over the years, they worked tirelessly to improve the home and the business that is still owned and operated by their two sons, Mike and Mark, today. In the early years, Ann and Arnie loved to take family vacations together with their five rambunctious kids and a big black Labrador Retriever named Smokey. They would all squeeze into a 1970’s Swinger camper on top of a 1968 International Double Cab pick-up truck and travel throughout the mid and eastern United States camping, hiking, and creating many wonderful and cherished memories. Ann and Arnie worked very hard to build a successful business and raise their children but as they got older, Ann encouraged Arnie to slow down a bit, enjoy life, and the fruits of their labor. So, they began to travel with great enthusiasm. Starting with a trip to Portugal, over the years they explored the world. They took many excursions to Europe, Great Britain, The Caribbean, and loved to travel throughout the continental United States. Some of their most memorable trips included Ireland, Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden (where Arnie’s mother was born). They loved the Caribbean and in particular Tortolla in the British Virgin Islands. They vacationed frequently to Florida and the Outer Banks in North Carolina where they owned properties. But no matter where it took them, they loved any chance to spend time together as a couple and with their ever-growing family. Along with her husband and children, Ann was also an enthusiastic and competitive league bowler. She won numerous prizes including a bronze metal in the Senior Olympics and traveled with her daughter, Kathy, to numerous Women’s Bowling Association local and national tournaments and gave them all a run for their money. Ann was also a huge fan of old movies and costume dramas and never failed to amaze us with her cinematic acumen and encyclopedic knowledge of all things Hollywood. She loved to read and devoured multiple books at the same time, particularly steamy romance novels. Her sweet and loving personality was one of her hallmarks but when Ann played cards or a board game, she played to win and was a stickler for the rules. Her pastimes also included cards, complicated puzzles, crosswords, and word searches and she enjoyed those more and more as she slowed down. Ann was an active volunteer and over the years, worked for many charitable organizations such as the USO, the Red Cross, the Catholic Daughters of America, Mary’s Helping Hands, and she joined Arnie in the Optimist Club as an Opti-Mrs. And even up into her 90’s, she assisted the aging veterans with Bingo at the Charlotte Hall VA Clinic. Ann was a uniquely competent and responsible person and was elected into many leadership roles within her charitable and social activities. She was a true patriot and volunteered every year as an election judge. She was also artistically and musically gifted and could draw and play the organ with great talent. Ann and Arnie were ardent supporters of each of their children’s and grandchildren’s various academic, artistic, and athletic endeavors. Even after Arnie’s death, Ann continued to be an enthusiastic supporter of all members of her growing family with her hallmark generosity and gracious spirit. She will be deeply missed by her large family and circle of friends and her legacy is one of a deep devotion to family, her love of community, a strong abiding faith, and a boundless kindness that everyone associates with her. She is now reunited with her beloved Arnie in heaven. Hers was a life well lived. Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, December 11, 2020 at 10AM at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 3320 St. Peter's Drive, Waldorf, Maryland 20601. Interment to follow in the church cemetery. Memorial contributions in Ann’s name are asked to the Catherine Foundation (3065 Old Washington Road, Waldorf, Maryland 20601) or Hospice. Face masks are required for all services and social distancing is to be observed with limited attendance.

Ann Martha Gillespie

June 3, 1929 - December 4, 2020