In Memoriam: Ann Burns Cody

From Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home.

Ann Burns Cody, a woman of grace and beauty, went to her final reward on Monday, March 7, 2016, surrounded by love.

Born January 26, 1932 in Greenwich Hospital to James P. and Frances Galvin Burns.

Ann was a lifelong resident of Stamford, raised on Stamford's west side.

Ann graduated from St. John's Parochial School and was a member of the "49ers" - the class of 1949 at Stamford High School. She also studied at Norwalk Community College and The University of Bridgeport. Ann married returning World War II and Normandy Invasion Veteran, Edward J. Cody and they remained happily married until his death in 1993. Ann worked at Stamford Hospital as she began her family.

Following Ed in his early career, Ann would drive with a 3-year-old in the front seat and a piece of plywood over the backseat to make a playpen for the others as she went to meet him in Florida, Louisiana, and California. This was before the interstate highway system and power steering, but she did it gladly and with courage.

Ann was an active parent as her children attended Stamford schools, most especially with the Westhill Chamber Singers. A former President of The Parish Council and Women's Society at St. Leo's Church, Ann and Ed were pioneers on committees for the St. Leo's Fair. She was also involved in the Boy Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts. After her children were raised, Ann created a second career as an Executive Legal Assistant with Equitable Life Insurance, Olin Corporation and finally with Champion Paper.

Ann was passionate about genealogy, proud of her paternal grandfather's farm in Stamford's west side, (The Burns Compound), on her maternal grandmothers’ side, the Galvins of Sandy Hook, Newtown, CT and the Attwater/Allings (signers of the charter for the New Haven Colony).

Ann was an active member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, The Putnam Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of which she was a President General's Project Promoter and a proud member of the All-American DAR Chorus. Ann was a member of The Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames, President of the Selleck Corners Cemetery Association, Editor of the AARP Newsletter and Editor of the St. Leo's Seniors Newsletter, she was also active in the several Bible Study programs. She was a proud member of St. John’s Parish.

Passionate about sewing, travel, friends and life itself, Ann loved her trips to her daughter's home on Stoney Beach in Hull, MA in the summer, trips to Southern California to visit her son and her Februarys in Fort Meyers Beach, FL. A world traveler, Ann visited all 7 continents of this planet.

Although never nominated for an Emmy or an Oscar, Ann worked as a TV extra on a 1997 episode of Seinfeld and as a movie extra on the movie Phantoms with Peter O'Toole and Ben Affleck. Many will recognize Ann from her scenes sharing her memories of Stamford’s history in the 2015 documentary, Stamford: A Small Town Remembers, by Michael Macari.

A highlight of her life, in November of 2013, Ann received a personal Blessing from Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome.

To know Ann was to experience unconditional love. You knew she cared about your life and what mattered to you. Ann was a Lady in the truest sense of the word. She taught her children faith, integrity, compassion, responsibility and love.

Besides her parents, Ann was predeceased by her husband Edward, her son William E. (Bill) Cody and Bill's wife Felicitas; her sisters Frances (Tootsie) Scott and Elizabeth (Betty) Burns.

Ann is survived by her son John J. Cody of Darien, Erin M Cody of Hull, MA and Beth Ann Cody of Stamford. Ann is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, many friends, and especially her "Circle of Friends".

The family will receive visitors at Shippan’s Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Ave., Stamford, from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 11. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at The Basilica of St John The Evangelist, on Atlantic Street in Stamford at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 12, with burial to follow at the family cemetery in Selleck Corners, New Canaan. For those unable to attend the Funeral Mass, you may view it live at www.stjohnsstamford.com

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made for Sisters in Retirement to: The School Sisters of Notre Dame, 345 Belden Hill Rd, Wilton, CT 06897, Attn: development department, checks made payable to SSND. Credit Cards call (203) 761-9732.

Our mom would ask that you always remember, "you can choose to be anything you'd like to be in this life; be kind!" To send on line condolences, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com