Anna Belle Brooking

Anna Belle Brooking Of Susquehanna, PA Anna Belle Brooking, who celebrated her 100th birthday last month passed away peacefully but suddenly at her home in Susquehanna on July 10. Born to Merton & Margaret Sterling on June 28, 1919, in South Gibson PA, she was the last survivor of 13 brothers and sisters. "Ann" was a born mother and home maker and spent her early years raising 3 daughters and also her grandson, who passed tragically just one month ago. Her kids were the light of her life. Ann loved to travel and would think nothing of hopping on a train, plane, or bus to visit relatives in California and Utah and Florida. She considered her daughter's home in Massachusetts as her second home and also enjoyed travel to the family cottage in Islesboro Maine. She moved to California for several years and was thrilled to become friends with her idols- Roy Rogers and Dale Evans-and was a member of her second husband's band "Ann and the Star Dusters"  She was an avid reader loved to, tend her flowers, go to yard sales and people watch- She adored dancing and music.  One of her other great joys was jumping in her pride and joy- the big white Town Car, and heading to Cindy's Cafe for an early breakfast with more of her "girls" She was also a talented poet and family historian -who kept in touch with her many relatives and friends the old-fashioned way- by letter. She had a great sense of humor and sharp wit and her pretty blue eyes would just sparkle as reminisced about her long life- with great recall of the "Roaring 20s" and the Depression., and her large chicken business during WW2. Ann attributed her long life to clean living, good food, a sense of humor but most of all her infallible trust in God which saw her thru the many tragedies of losing friends and family.  She was loved by all who met her- and will be sorely missed. Survivors are her daughter and son-in-law, Sherri and Dennis Silvestre, Granddaughter in-law, Valerie Burdick, her great granddaughter Cara (whom she shared the same birthday) and 3 great great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, who had the pleasure of joining her in her final birthday party that she had so anticipated and enjoyed to the max  Ann was predeceased by her 2 oldest daughters, Marjorie Meloni (1996) and Carolle Bussa,(1969) her grandson, Carl Burdick Jr. ( 2019) , 13 siblings, and several nieces and nephews, her first husband Andrew Burns and her second, Ralph Brooking  She had many special " adopted kids' including Deb, Pauline, Chrissie, Dave, Hulda, just to name a few and her circle of friends with whom she kept in touch with by phone Special thanks to the wonderful team at Revolutionary Home Health care- who have always gone above and beyond the call of duty and became wonderful friends- she would not have made 100 without you  A celebration of Ann's life will be held at Hennessey's Funeral Home, 747 Jackson Ave, Susquehanna PA on Monday July 15th Viewing 10-11, services at 11, interment at Riverside Cemetery, Windsor NY to follow immediately  In Lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Peoples Security Bank and Trust, 215 Erie Ave Susquehanna, PA, C/O Dennis and Sherri Silvestre.