Anne Ryan Shigley
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Anne Ryan Shigley passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on July 3, 2021. Anne was born in Queens, New York, September 25, 1935, to George Joseph Ryan and Elean Callahan Ryan and was raised her along with older brother, George Joseph Ryan, Jr. Anne graduated from Bishop McDonald Memorial High School in Brooklyn, New York, in 1953.
Graceful, caring and kind, Anne chose nursing as her profession. After completing nursing school at Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1956, and anesthesia training at Duke University School of Nursing in 1958, Anne began her career as Nurse Anesthetist at Cornell University Hospital in Manhattan. Years later in 1963, on a whim, she left the East Coast with some friends and set out for Seattle. She quickly found work at Virginia Mason and later at Everett General Hospital.
Although she was raised in a family of Irish Catholic Democrats, in the summer of 1964 Anne met the love of her life, Charles E. Shigley, Jr., at a Young Republicans cocktail party, explaining "Republicans threw better parties." They married in February, 1965, and were by each other's side for 56 years.
Anne believed in service and standing up for those who could not stand up for themselves, and served for many years as a volunteer advocate for victims of domestic violence.
Anne ("Annie" to Chuck and a select few close friends) was the consummate hostess. Whether she was making her one-of-a-kind potato salad by the bucketload for Fourth of July cookouts or a Thanksgiving dinner for 20, she made it look easy. Her advice to her new daughter-in-law was, "Never leave your guests to clean up, the dishes can wait until morning."
More than anything, Anne enjoyed warm summer days on her porch in the company of friends and family at her home at Kayak Point on Port Susan Bay. Anne loved watching her grandchildren grow up playing on the beach and being "Beach Grandma" to their friends.
Brave, determined, humble and loving. Anne knew her own mind and taught her granddaughter that being the only woman in the room shouldn't stop her from being the boss.
Anne is survived by her husband, Charles, her son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Tracey, her granddaughter, Bailey, and grandson, Ryan. She was the steadying force for the Shigley family for decades. We will miss her dry sense of humor, her endless patience, and the enormous warmth of her love.
At Anne's request, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation in Anne's name to the Stanwood/Camano Food Bank.