Ann E. Monahan

Ann E. Monahan (nee Markey) passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 15th, at the age of 95, with family and beloved friends by her side.

Ann was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the fifth child of eight to Jane (Jennie) Shea and John James Markey. Ann was a gifted porcelain doll artist, talented seamstress, and culinary enthusiast. Ann often said, “It is easy if you know how.” Beyond her artistic achievements, Ann's greatest joy was spending time with family. Family gatherings often included homemade lasagna and always chocolate, banana, and coconut cream pies.

Ann graduated from Henry Snyder High School in Jersey City in 1947, and then attended the former McDowell School of Fashion and Design in New York City. The McDowell School was the first school in the country to provide professional training in design and dressmaking. She was an incredible artist. Her training led her to ceramics, and she soon became a Certified Duncan Ceramics teacher. Studying porcelain ceramics led to a lifelong passion for creating lace-draped porcelain dolls. “Once I worked with porcelain, I knew it was for me.” Ann established the company “Dolls by Jennie Lee,” with the help of her husband Bill. Each lace-draped figurine was named after a family member or friend.

Ann met her beloved husband of 57 years, Bill, in 1963 at the Four Towers Supper Club in Cedar Grove, NJ. Bill made a date the following week at a diner where servers wore roller skates. They were married on January 22, 1965, and raised four children.

Ann enjoyed an early career as an Administrative Assistant with Colgate-Palmolive in New York City. After the family moved from New Jersey to Georgia in 1979, Ann started working at Gwinnett County Water Systems and retired in 1999.

Ann’s creativity knew no bounds. Ann inherited her gifted sewing skills from her talented mother and sewed beautiful dresses, including her own ‘Jackie O’-inspired wedding dress. She also created draperies and upholstery for her home. She loved shopping for fabric and sewing patterns and creating stylish designs with beautiful materials. Always interested in learning new recipes, Ann enjoyed watching cooking shows and sharing her favorite recipes with family and friends. Ann had an extraordinary zest for life and selflessly shared her talents with her beloved family. While preparing for her daughter's wedding, mom spent a year creating eighty gold-trimmed porcelain candle holder centerpieces and 120 matching porcelain candy dish wedding favors, in addition to a spectacular ceramic wedding cake topper. Mom also designed and sewed her own beautiful blue silk dress, which she wore at the wedding. Ann's happiness and life's passion was art, whether in the lace-draped porcelain dolls she created, the clothes she designed, or the wonderful meals she cooked for her family.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, sisters Mary, Helen, Catherine, Jean, Doris, brother John, grandson John Monahan Jr., and daughter-in-law Jennifer Monahan. Ann is survived by her sister Barbara, daughter Jennie Jovanovic (Goran), sons William Monahan (Berna), John Monahan (Michelle), and Scott Monahan (Meredith), ten grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Special thanks to Mom's neighbors, caring friends, Becky, Helen, Vivian, Jennifer, Carolyn and Brandee. We are also grateful to Alethea, Hayden, Lisa, and Amanda of Capstone Hospice.

The funeral Mass will be offered on Saturday, November 23rd at 1:00 pm at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 6439 Spout Springs Rd., Flowery Branch 30542. Reception to follow after Mass at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be sent to the Northeast Georgia Humane Society.

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.