Anne Margaret (Morrone) Wells

      Anne Margaret Morrone Wells, of Brownstown, passed away peacefully at her home on the morning of January 14, 2021.  She was 101 years old. Heaven can wait no longer. 

       Anne Margaret was born to Antonio and Nellie (Gordon) Morrone, Italian immigrants, in Gary, Indiana, on March 8, 1919.  She was the youngest of four children.  Her siblings Fran, Paul, and Nick preceded her in death.  Anne's given name was Anna, but she determined in third grade to be called Anne (definitely Anne with an e at the end), one of her first acts of showing she was a force to be reckoned with.  She graduated from Froebel High School at the age of 16.  She was very proud of the education she received in the Gary schools.  The system of education was known as work-study-play, developed by American educator William Wirt.  Anne learned to be comfortable speaking in front of an audience and attributed "being a ham" to her well-rounded education.  She completed a one-year program at Gary Business College and proceeded to become a reliable bookkeeper at Gary Office Supply and was much valued by her employer. 

        When she was ten her older sister Fran came home from college and taught Anne how to play bridge.  This began a life-long love affair with the game of bridge.  If you knew her, she probably tried to convince you to learn to play bridge! 

        She met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Wells, while bowling.  He gave her a ride home.  Did she leave her bowling shoes in his car on purpose?  It was a question she would not answer for years, telling her family, "Always keep a little mystery about you."  They were married on February 8, 1946 in Hobart, Indiana, and this union was blessed with four children:  Carl, Peggy, Jill, and Tom.  Bob and Anne moved their young family to Brownstown in 1956.  Bob preceded Anne in death, on August 24, 1992. 

         Anne was a wonderful mother to her four children.  Her example and lessons live on for her children:  "Rise above it," "Don't let a recipe rule you," "Give yourself three days when something bad happens and then move on," "Life is the good, the bad, and the ugly for everyone," "Make your glass one-half full," "Sometimes people teach you how not to be." 

         Anne owned and operated the Townhouse Army Surplus in Brownstown, and she enjoyed investing in real estate and the stock market. 

         She is survived by her four children:  Carl Wells of Brownstown, Peggy Wells of Brownstown, Jill Byers (husband Dave) of Avon, Indiana, and Tom Wells of Louisville, Kentucky; by four grandchildren:  Beth Aguinaga (husband Ernesto), James Byers, John Byers (wife Raquel), and Sarah Byers; and by four great-grandchildren:  Chase, Shilo, Monterey, and Emmanuel Aguinaga.  Anne also loved being Aunt Margaret to many nieces and nephews. 

         Anne was for most of her life a member of the United Methodist Church, Brownstown.  In her later years she also enjoyed fellowship and worship at the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Columbus, and the Church of Christ, Brownstown. 

         The family wishes to thank Colette, Pam, and Steve from Schneck Hospice for making Anne's last weeks more comfortable, and for their support to the family. 

        Anne always said, "Heaven can wait," and was actively planning what she would say at her 102nd birthday party, but wouldn't give her family a clue as to what her comments would be.          Anne loved and missed her own mother very much, and we hope they are having a joyous reunion in heaven.  She and her daughter Peggy wrote the following poem many years ago in honor of Anne's mother Nellie Morrone and her mother-in-law Pearl Wells: 

Mother's Treasure Chest 

Mothers are for loving and for keeping safe and deep, 

All the memories that they gave us, 

Sowing seeds that we will reap. 

Although we knew that someday, 

Mother's Treasure Chest would close, 

The vast riches we have stored inside, 

Are better far than gold. 

        Anne’s children are grateful to God for their vibrant loving mother.  They believe that she is in heaven, by the grace of God through Jesus Christ.  

        A celebration of Anne's life may be scheduled for a later date.

All arrangements have been entrusted to Zabel Funeral Home of Brownstown. 

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