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In Memory

Ann Theresa Donohue (Griggs) - Class Of 1978 VIEW PROFILE

Ann Theresa Donohue (Griggs)

Ann Teresa Donohue-Griggs

Bold, brilliant & beautiful, Ann Teresa Donohue-Griggs entered into eternal life joining her husband Gladden on November 17th, reuniting the soulmates who married on September 3rd 1988. To say that she lived courageously would be an understatement. Known to her family, friends, and many perfect strangers as one of the most intrepid advocates, she sprinted through life upward bound in pursuit of all that is good. A pride of the South Side of South Bend, she was born to Martha Ann and Thomas in 1960 at St. Joseph Hospital. Raised on Dayton Street with her siblings Mary, Joseph, Claire, and Daniel, she attended Studebaker and was awarded many accolades including a Daughters of the American Revolution distinction. Overflowing with enthusiasm, curiosity, and determination to participate in and contribute to her community, she became the Wildcat – the school mascot – supporting athletics with fervent passion. Greatly skilled in her own right as a softball catcher and volleyball player, her enjoyment in sports both as a team member and coach maintained throughout her whole life. She was always adamant to provide opportunities to her and other children of Michiana at the O’Brien Center, YMCA, South Side Little League, and the local school teams.

A steadfast proponent of education who believed that great scholarship can change the world, she studied psychology at Purdue University and received her undergraduate degree in three years. She continued advanced studies at Indiana University South Bend and earned a Master’s degree in early childhood education. Following in the footsteps of her mother, she joined her at Memorial Hospital after completing the diploma nursing program. Serving as the bedrock of the family, she continued to work in support of her children and her husband, whom she sent back to school at the University of Notre Dame for an engineering degree, of which she was most proud. Gladden, Ann, and her brother Daniel would go on to start several businesses including Gribbits and Book Buddies. Upon Gladden’s passing in November 2007, she bolstered her already voluminous love for and devotion to their children Gabriel, Nathaniel, and Olivia. Making no compromises, she sent her children to Saint Matthew Cathedral School – only blocks from her childhood home and which she herself had wanted to attend and was a parishioner – and became actively involved in numerous aspects including starting a chess club and being a cub scout leader. In these and various capacities, she sought to ensure equal chances to both girls and boys. Epitomizing her allegiance to civil rights and civic virtue, she often reminded Olivia that if her brothers can she could too. Dedicated to promoting welfare through the development of the mind via the arts in service of the highest good, she was overjoyed to continue her own education learning alongside her children as they attended Trinity School at Greenlawn and was constantly amazed by the plethora of opportunities offered. In the tradition of her mother, she instilled a deep appreciation for art, music, writing, languages, singing, reading, poetry, cinema, gardening and every flower of creative expression.

Perhaps befitting of her namesake, all three would graduate from institutions of Our Lady – Saint Mary’s College and the University of Notre Dame. Her affiliations deepened with their studies and works there in addition to her own work at the Holy Cross House for the Congregation with whom her eldest took final vows and was ordained a priest. His ministry as a campus rector evoked some of her fondest memories as a three-time participant in the Upward Bound program. Her enduring sense of service was unbounded, radiating to all she held dear and proliferating beyond her time and circumstance. Though widowed, she volunteered with the St. Vincent De Paul Society delivering groceries and the Friends of the Library bookstore finding second life for the St. Joseph County Library collections. As a nurse, she aided in administering the Daisy award and was always supportive in recognizing her fellow colleagues. Demonstrating tremendous moral resolve and revering the dignity of all and every life, she was nominated and honored to serve on the ethics committee. As a citizen of the world and the Lord, she displayed an abiding intercession to noble causes fueled by a faith only to be satisfied when everlasting in Heaven. Despite adversity, she never relinquished hope that we will and must do better through works of mercy kept alive in the rights and responsibilities of the body politic.

May we be inspired by and aspire toward our lady Ann as we seek to achieve the highest potential. We shall never forget to remember that hard work will forever make a difference and that a rising soul lifts all those its spirit comes to know.

Love ya’ Mom from your kiddos and beloved family & friends.

Thank you to all those of the Heartland for the great kindnesses shown throughout her life on Earth.

Any memorial donations can be directed to the Forever Learning Institute at St. Thérèse Little Flower Parish in honor of Ann and Gladden.

Visitation and Wake: Thursday December 21st 2:00pm – 7:00pm at Kaniewski Funeral Home. Funeral Mass: Friday December 22nd 9:30am at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart with the nearest parking found behind the Basilica in the A9 lot near the Carol Sandner building.

Additional service and memorial details given on https://www.kaniewski.com/

11/27/2023 EJS

https://www.southbendtribune.com/obituaries/psbn0637870



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