Ann Marie Mary Jordan

Ann Marie Mary Jordan, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2024 in Dover, New Hampshire with family by her side. Ann Marie lived a full life defined by a deep love for her family, resilience, a witty sense of humor, and a commitment to serving others. Her optimistic spirit and spunk were a source of inspiration to everyone who knew her, and she faced life’s challenges with courage and grace.

Born on October 9, 1941 in Berlin, NH, the second daughter to Jeanne and Robert Blanchette, Ann Marie relocated with her family to Claremont, NH while she was still in diapers. She grew up in the New England town near the banks of the Connecticut River and attended Stevens High School. In 1959, she participated in the Miss Claremont Pageant and was named Miss Congeniality.

The honor was one of the highlights of Ann Marie’s teenage years, but she never felt she earned the accolade. During the talent portion of the pageant while singing “Little George (Got The Hiccoughs),” she was ironically struck with a case of hiccups herself – due, she said, to a questionable hotdog consumed at lunch – and had to run off the stage mid-performance. She always thought the judges felt sorry for her and awarded her the Miss Congeniality title out of sympathy.

It didn’t take a pageant for Ann Marie to have a desire to “dress to the nines” and feel pretty. She was a lady through and through and had impeccable fashion sense. She took great pride in her appearance, and never wanted her “public to suffer” when she stepped out for an event or to run an errand.

Later in life, when she needed the assistance of a cane, no one cane would do. She amassed a collection, with each cane carefully chosen to coordinate with her wardrobe, which was overwhelmingly represented by her favorite color, pink. Pink was rarely missing from Ann Marie’s classy – and sometimes sassy – appearance, and others often took notice. During one doctor’s appointment, her physician walked with her around the office so everyone could see how beautifully dressed she was that day. When chemotherapy thinned her hair as she battled cancer, she donned a pink wig. That was her wig of choice in the spring of 2019 when she rang the bell at the cancer center in Spring Hill, Florida to signify the completion of her treatment.

It was that fun-loving personality, wittiness, and zest for life that made Ann Marie a legion of adoring friends and the life of the party. She loved to entertain and socialize, whether at her home in Claremont, where she lived most of her life, or in Florida, where she moved to enjoy retirement and the warmth of the beaches.

Ann Marie’s career was defined by serving others. Her interest in beauty and fashion inspired her to earn her cosmetology license in the 1960s and she became a hairdresser. After working at various salons, she went into business for herself, turning a portion of the basement in her home into Ann Marie’s Beauty Bar, complete with a small sign hanging from the light post at the end of her driveway. It was a place filled with laughter, stories, and, of course, a whisper of gossip on occasion.

Later in her career, Ann Marie made weekly visits to the Sullivan County Home in Unity, NH to provide hair care and a side of support to the nursing home residents. The home was a special place for Ann Marie. Her father, Robert, lived there for several years before he passed away. Ann Marie finished her career in service to a younger group of people – students at Charlotte Harbor High School in Port Charlotte, FL where she was part of the lunch crew at the Champ’s Café.

Ann Marie’s most enduring quality in life was resiliency. And it was called upon many times, whether it was overcoming personal challenges, facing the daunting task of rebuilding her home in Punta Gorda, FL in the wake of Hurricane Charley in 2004, fighting off a cancer diagnosis or living with debilitating back pain, which was a constant companion during the last decade of her life.

She never gave up, never gave in, always wanting to be there for her family and friends. She would cherish those days when the pain in her back and legs hurt just a little less and she would share with her loved ones that, “I don’t want to brag or say it too loud, because I don’t want to jinx it, but I actually had a good day today.”

While Ann Marie had a fulfilling career and took great pleasure in the simple things in life like her love of Elvis, watching the early evening lineup of TV shows with her kids or keeping up with five decades of “General Hospital,” love for her family was the cornerstone of her life.

She cherished every moment spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and her home was always filled with laughter, love and plenty of sweets. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren called her Mémère (grandmother in French), and her eyes would light up every time they did. She was a guiding light, always offering wisdom, support, and a listening ear.

Preceded in death by her husband, Carmen P. Jordan, and her beloved Pomeranian rescue Foxy, Anne Marie is survived by her daughter, Charlene Wallace, Deering, NH; and two sons, Michael Sievert and his wife Anna DeYoung, Rollinsford, NH, and Steven Sievert, Houston, TX; a sister Evette Buinicky, Lexington, SC; grandchildren Shayne Wallace, Shelby Wallace, Gabriel Wallace, Megan Kotlus, Emily Sievert and Ellen Sievert; great-grandchildren Brycen Wallace, Brayleigh Wallace and Otto Kotlus; niece Velvet Bechard; nephew Shawn Buinicky and his wife Barbara; daughters-in-law Candyce Trotter, Carmele Cummins and Camille Karcher; son-in-law Carmen Jordan; sisters-in-law Hope Fakkema and Faith Stabbert; and numerous Jordan family grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to Sue Dustin, whose unwavering support and care provided immense comfort and brighter days to Ann Marie in her final years. Sue was not just a friend but a true blessing to Ann Marie and our family. Ann Marie also leaves behind many friends who have all been touched by her presence in their lives.

Ann Marie was an indelible part of the lives of the Sievert, Wallace, Jordan and Jackson families, and her legacy of wit, kindness and compassion will live on in our hearts.

A memorial service celebrating Ann Marie’s life will be held in October in New Hampshire.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude for memorial contributions to be directed to the New Hampshire Humane Society, www.nhhumane.org.