Obituary of Anne Jennings Feeley

BELFAST — Anne Mills Jennings Feeley passed away on August 18, 2023, at the age of 76 following a stroke. Anne lived in Belfast with Mark, her husband of 50 years.

Anne grew up in South Orange, New Jersey, was a graduate of Columbia High School (‘65), and earned degrees from Upsala and Colby-Sawyer colleges.

Anne and Mark were married in 1973 at the Our Lady of Sorrows Church in South Orange, the same church where they first met as kindergartners at the church’s grammar school.  

In 1974 they joined the “back to the land” movement, settling in Troy, Maine, and throwing themselves into rural life. 

In 1984 Anne, Mark, and their son Tim moved to Belfast. Anne worked for nearly 30 years in the Belfast schools. Anne found her calling working with special education students and channeled her passion for helping others. 

In retirement, Anne volunteered at the kitchen of the Waldo County Jail’s Reentry Center and the Belfast Soup Kitchen. 

Anne was an excellent cook with a caring soul who sought to nurture and nourish those around her. She was known to appear with a casserole or soup when someone was sick or hurting without hesitation. Anne’s attitude was that everyone else’s problems were bigger than hers, so how could she help them? By feeding them!

She wanted people to eat good food, laugh a lot, and love more, and she enjoyed giving people a venue to do so in her kitchen; a hub where her friends connected.  She had an uncanny ability to turn common ingredients into uncommon fare. Her crab cakes were legendary. 

Anne enjoyed taking short (but time-consuming) walks around the neighborhood so she could check in on everyone, reading any mystery book she could find, listening to music in her kitchen, and watching her grandkids, Amelia and Sam, grow into amazing people.  

Anne is survived by her husband, Mark; sister Jane Jennings of Brunswick; son, Tim Feeley, daughter-in-law Emily Rines, granddaughter Amelia, grandson Sam, all of Brunswick; in-laws Elizabeth (Betsey) Feeley of Belfast, Richard and Terri Feeley of Ocala, Florida, Ellyn Jennings of Morristown, New Jersey; and nephews Robbie III, Ryan, Brad, Seth, Abe, and David, and her niece Audrey.

Anne was predeceased by her father, Robert Emmet Jennings, and her mother, Florence Mills Jennings of Short Hills, New Jersey; her sister Elizabeth Roofeh of New York City; and her brother Robert Emmet Jennings II, of Washington Twp., New Jersey. 

Mark and Tim extend their gratitude to all of the friends and family who have reached out to offer support and love since Anne was stricken and to all of the caring staff at Waldo County General Hospital and hospice care who eased Anne’s transition from this life. 

A celebration of Anne’s life will be held at a future date.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com