In loving memory of

Anna Ann McManus
December 12, 1954 - May 4, 2022

Anna A. McManus
December 12, 1954
May 4, 2022


Anna was preceded in death by her parents, James S. and Yvonne A. McManus. She is survived by her sister Sue Long (Danny), her brother Greg McManus (Denise), and four nieces: Suzanne Conway McKinley (Michael); Misha Evoy (Chris); Amy Crutcher (Greg) grandniece, Landry; and Emily Fill (Jason) with "grands" Hudson, Caroline, and Hayes.


Anna grew up in the small town of Sweet Water, Alabama, where she attended grade school and high school. After she graduated from the University of West Alabama in 1977, she spent a year in London and Paris as an aupair. She returned to teach at Sweet Water High School for ten years, during which time she implemented new programs: the Science Fair, the Biology Club, and the Academic Express program. As she continued teaching, she earned Master Degrees in Teaching and School Administration, leading to her position of Assistant Principal (1989-1994) and then Principal (1994-1997). At UWA and SWHS she served as Area Director of the Special Olympics. Her time in London and Paris increased her desire for European travel and other countries. She has visited England, France, Italy, Austria, and Portugal.


A big change in her life came when on a scholarship, she attended St. John's College graduate program for a Master's Degree in Classical Studies. It was then that her travels began: first to a new home in Madison, Wisconsin, with the job as the Assistant Principal at Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart. Her responsibilities there included teacher evaluations, accreditation, graduation, K-college science liaison, and being the coordinator for the International Studies exchange program with a school at Vajiravudh College in Bangkok, Thailand. She traveled to Thailand to meet with teachers, help with the exchange program, and sightsee.


Anna was a lover of nature, enjoying kayaking, swimming, hiking, camping, but most particularly, bird watching; she became involved with the e-Bird Science at Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Annual Midwest Crane Count.

Anna highly valued time with family and friends; she was a loving, kind, intentional, and generous person who quietly offered her gifts to those friends and family members. She treasured time, especially time spent having tea parties with her grands. One of her friends declared: "She is one of the kindest people who ever lived." She will be sorely missed.



(cont.)
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to any of the following organizations:


International Crane Foundation savingcranes.org
E11376 Shady Lane Road follow "donate" link
Baraboo, WI 53913



UW Carbone Cancer Center uwhealth.org
600 Highland Avenue follow "donate" link
Madion, WI 53792


Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters http://www.sinsinawa.org
585 County Road Z follow "donate" link
Sinsinawa, WI 53824


St. John's College https://www.sjc.edu
Santa Fe Campus follow "give" link
1160 Camino de Cruz Blanca
Santa Fe, NM 87505



Informed Choice Funeral
& Cremation Alternatives
3325 E. Washington Ave. Madison
(608) 249-6758

Tributes

MaryEllen Schlough wrote on May 11, 2022:

"Anna was the kind of friend that inspired me to be better : a better friend, a better observer, a better reader and a better preparer for the future. I miss her dearly. She leaves a hole in my ??. "