Ann Manion, 76, active volunteer

Ann Manion of Ridgefield, an active volunteer who had been a founder of the Ridgefield Woman’s Club, died on Friday morning, May 27, 2005, at Danbury Hospital. She was 76 years old and the wife of William J. Manion.

Mrs. Manion was born in Orange, N.J., on Sept. 28, 1928, daughter of Thomas and Viola Morrison Degnen. She attended New Jersey schools as well as secretarial school.

A resident of Ridgefield for the past 41 years, coming from Simsbury, Mrs. Manion was active in the Ridgefield community and St. Mary’s Parish.

She was a co-originator of the Ridgefield Woman’s Club and active with the Meals on Wheels Program. She served as co-chairperson of the first St. Mary’s Church Fair and was a former religious education instructor.

Mrs. Manion enjoyed swimming, traveled extensively throughout the world, enjoyed theater “but especially enjoyed being with her family and most especially her grandchildren,” her family said.

In addition to her husband of 53 years, Mrs. Manion is survived by three daughters, Kerry A. Manion of Brookfield, Mary Elizabeth Potamkin and her husband, Charles “Kit,” of Newport Beach, Calif., and Meg M. Manion of Newburyport, Mass.; two sons, Kevin P. Manion and his wife, Carrie M., of Foothill Ranch, Colo., and Peter T. Manion and his wife, Martha P., of Sandy Hook; a brother, Thomas Degnen and his wife, Barbara, of Alabama; a sister, Dorothy Savage of Tennessee; and 10 grandchildren.

A sister, Mary Elizabeth Degnen, died earlier.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday in St. Mary’s Church.

Burial took place in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Stroke Foundation, 11902 Lowell Suite 104, Overland Park, KS 66212, www.americanstroke.org.