Anna M. Gerace, Was Born and Raised on Island

Ann (Andrews) Gerace, born on Martha's Vineyard back when the Island and its inhabitants were open and few, has died of a long illness in Daytona Beach, Fla. Mom kept the Island in her heart and always had a little sand in her shoes. Known to be a good swimmer she was often seen swimming out past the breakwater in Vineyard Haven harbor in her youth.

Ann grew up in her grandparent's home in Vineyard Haven; she often accompanied her grandfather on his milk deliveries in town and would help out her grandmother in the garden. Her grandfather was known to set bear traps in his garden to dissuade the rabbits on their nightly raids. Ann would tell her children stories of her growing up and taking part in the preparing of the hogs in fall. She would explain the sausage making and how it was her job to catch the blood in a pail for later use. Her stories of her time at her grandparents home were always vivid and anyone listening would know those were her favorite times growing up.

Ann lived a very active life in the pursuit of surrounding herself with people she loved. She worked as a real estate agent in the Hamilton area while raising her four children and loved to entertain family in the rambling house she took care of in Hamilton. Many weekends in the summer the extended family would be in the yard for a cook out and always Ann would be in the middle of the crowd with her laughter. She never made it down to the Island as often as she liked so she would pack us up every chance and take us to all the beaches of the north shore. But when she was able to go home to the Island Tashmoo and State Beach were her choices. I do remember her taking me down to Oak Bluffs harbor once and letting me dive and swim for quarters that the tourists would through down to the kids. I recall her laughter at my diligence at retrieving the quarters that made it to the bottom.

She was a good mom and made sure we all experienced the flying horses, fries at Giordano's, the fire works, sunset at Lambert's Cove, floating on the inbound tide at Tashmoo and everything that goes with a magical Island childhood. Being a good mother was important to Ann so she stayed at home until her children left home, she then found the love of her life and married Jerry and pursued with him a life of happiness. They were well-traveled and for a period worked on cruise lines as professional bridge partners for the tourists. Both Jerry and Ann were great bridge players and really could run a table with ease. Later in life when Ann could no longer travel she started receiving the Vineyard Gazette and she often said that it was her connection with the Island and would read it cover to cover, she always was an Island girl. We all miss you so much mom you can never know how much you meant to all of us, love.

Ann is survived by her loving husband Jerome Gerace of Daytona, Fla. and her four children. Her daughter Peggy Laroach of Hampton, N.H. and her two sons Lawrence and Matthew Douglas, her son William Poehler of Burlington and his son Gregory and daughter Amy Poehler, her son Dean Poehler of Lynn and her son Eric Poehler of Melrose and his son Matthew Woods. She was predeceased by her parents Elizabeth and James Andrews of Vineyard Haven and her two brothers Jimmy (J.J.) Andrews Jr., and Ralph Fisher.

A memorial will be held for Ann on April 30, at the First Congregational Church on Bay Road in Hamilton. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to your favorite charity.