McCloskey, Anne

Anne M. McCloskey, formerly of Allenhurst, N.J., died at home on April 2. She was 85. Born in 1936 in Kearny, she grew up in Bloomfield and moved to the Jersey shore in the early 1960s, where she spent her happiest days raising her children just blocks from the ocean – part of the close-knit community of Allenhurst Beach Club and St. Mary’s School families.

Anne loved feeding people – especially neighborhood kids, school teams, and relatives near and far. Pulling out pots, chopping ingredients, rolling meatballs, stirring gravy – she’d chat up guests, laughing and filling their plates. Sometimes she asked pointed questions, sensing that a friend at the table hungered for more than just food. Who’s home for you tonight? Do you need a ride? It was no coincidence that over time many more than just her own children took to calling her “Ma.”

As her children grew older, Anne ventured into the world of real estate, bringing her warmth and humor to the K. Hovnanian Company in Red Bank, where she stayed for more than two decades – leaving behind a reputation for stellar performance, quick wit, unvarnished truth telling and a host of memorable moments for her colleagues. Today still folks from KHov recall her fondly as “Not for nothin’ Annie” – a nod to one of her many Jerseyisms.

She loved to sing and dance, and on any given day could be found blasting Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett in her car or at home, or cleaning to a Lou Rawls tune. Recently she marveled that Alexa could help find her music.

Anne prayed religiously, saying the rosary and attending daily mass whenever possible throughout her life. In her later years she regularly visited church outside of scheduled services, ritually blessing herself with holy water, lighting a candle or two, and then setting about touching and praying with the statues inside. She delighted in the realization that despite the pandemic she could continue those practices as they were streamed on television. She used potato chips as her communion hosts.

She loved watching sports, in person or on the screen – and yes, she would insist, the Giants football game or Duke-Carolina hoops match she was watching in July was happening live.

Anne had rules for any number of scenarios, and she freely gave them voice: Pick up your room. Help with the dishes. Comb your hair, brush your teeth and go to bed. Wear clean underwear (in case you end up in the emergency room).

But she lived her life according to some basic rules: Share good food, preferably homemade. Pray gratefully every day. Sing and dance when you can. Be kind. And love your family – fiercely.

Anne is survived by her sisters Alberta Infantolino and Donna Verona; children Tom and Cathy (Deretchin) McCloskey, Sharon McCloskey and Kurt Peters, Scott and Kim (Mascola) McCloskey, Christine McCloskey and Tim Chittenden, and George and Betsy (Shaheen) Barnett; grandchildren Ryan McCloskey; Casey and Caroline (Stone), Ryan, and Haley Peters; Lauren, Michael, Colin and Jack McCloskey; and Adam, Noah, Jake and Johana Polanco Chittenden; and great granddaughter Dillon Peters.

A private service will be held on April 9, 2022 at St. Mary’s Church in Blacksburg,Virginia, and a celebration of life later this summer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Anne’s honor to Franciscan Charities in Newark (franciscancharitiesinc.org), New Hope Girls (newhopegirls.com), or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (stjude.org).