Anne E. Conneally

ALBANY - Anne Conneally, age 61, daughter of Mary Vanderwarker (née. Wallingford), Thomas F. Conneally and stepfather Paul Vanderwarker, all deceased, passed away on February 1, 2024, due to compounding health problems in recent years.  “Annie Bananie”, “Banana Boats”, departed this world peacefully, with her partner of 23 years, Marisa Fiester of Albany, on one side, her sister, Mary Pat Radeka (Patty) from Rhode Island, on the other, and surrounded with her beloved bischon frise, Bailey, fittingly, by her many friends.  She also leaves behind her brother-in-law, beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Annie was a collector of animals and people.  She adopted abandoned cats and dogs as a teenager and worked with her partner to rescue cats later in life. Anne was approachable and had a genuine warmth that drew people in.  She lived life with abandon and in the moment.  A rebel from the start, a pool shark, a lover of water, motorcycles, playing poker, and messing about on boats.  She was a Dallas Cowboys fan and enjoyed cooking for her friends. Annie was the coolest person in the room, the life of the party, and a favorite in her Albany neighborhood and Connecticut camp family of friends.

Growing up she was a stand-out athlete in softball, basketball, and bowling.  She loved to ski on snow and water, and she was an elegant equestrian.  She detested school and most rules.  She was a cinnamon girl– tall, lithe, tan, with big brown doe eyes with an electric sparkle, a smirk always ready at the corner of her mouth.  She had shoulder length chestnut hair with streaks of honey gold in the summers spent tomboy-ing around The Lake or ramming around on bikes up and down Winthrop Avenue.  Think of her when you hear her walk-up song, Mustang Sally.  Remember her as a life-partner, a steadfast friend, a loyal sister and a loving daughter.

A celebration of life is planned for the summertime. Donations in Anne’s memory may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Avenue,
Menands, NY 12204.

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home, 490 Delaware Avenue, Albany, NY 12209.