Ann C. Bruce

Ann C. (Sprague) Bruce, age 78, passed away peacefully in the Ellis Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Norwood, Massachusetts on Thursday, January 26, 2017. Born in West Roxbury, Massachusetts on November 6, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Walter E. and Cecilia A. (Galvin) Sprague. She was raised in West Roxbury and graduated from Saint Joseph's Academy in Roxbury with the Class of 1956. After graduation, Ann took a position with the National Merchandising Company in Boston.

She married William Halligan on April 18, 1959 in Saint Theresa of Avila Church in West Roxbury and together they made their home in Stoughton, where they welcomed their son, Bill. Sadly, shortly after Bill was born, Ann's husband, Bill, passed away and she moved home with her family in West Roxbury. While living in West Roxbury, she met James F. Bruce, and after a short period of dating, they were married on July 1, 1961 in Saint Theresa of Avila Church. They lived for a short time in Readville, before making their home in Avon, where they welcomed their son, Dan. In 1964, Ann and Jim settled in Walpole, Massachusetts to raise their young family and welcomed their son, Jim, and daughter, Suzanne.

After her children had reached school age, Ann took a job at the Golden Steer Steak House on Route 1 in Walpole. In 1975, sadly, Jim passed away, and Ann began working for the Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association in Boston, to support her family. After leaving the Association in 1980, she joined the team at the Walpole Times, working as the business manager. She took the skills learned at the Times with her when she became the business manager with the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston. She retired in 2003 after 15 years of dedicated service to the Archdiocese.

Ann loved her hometown of Walpole, and served for many years on the Finance Committee, was the secretary of the Democratic Town Committee, and could often be found walking through Bird Park in East Walpole. She did, however, enjoy and escape to her family's land in Appleton, Maine to take in all the natural beauty that surrounded her. Ann also enjoyed taking trips to Cape Cod, where she would spend countless hours at the beaches that she loved so much. More than anything, she was a dedicated family woman, who adored every minute she spent with her grandchildren.

Beloved wife of the late James F. Bruce and the late William E. Halligan.
Loving mother of William "Bill" E. H. Bruce and his wife Kathleen of Marina Del Rey, California, Daniel "Dan" F. Bruce and his wife Wendy of Walpole, James "Jim" D. Bruce and his wife Andrea of Walpole, and Suzanne M. Jantzen and her husband Christopher of Needham.
Cherished grandmother of Parker, Sam, Nicole, Lauren, Nick, Hannah, Carly, Darci, Marianna, and Lila, and great grandmother of Brayden and Chase.
Sister of Kathleen M. Woodward and her husband Frank of Walpole, Ellen P. Kelly and her husband Frank of Quincy, John E. Sprague and his wife Geraldine of Millis, and Walter E. Sprague, Jr. and his wife Karen of North Attleboro.
Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Ann's Life Celebration on Sunday, January 29, 2017 from 2-6 PM and Monday, January 30, 2017 from 9-9:30 AM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Mary's Church, 176 Washington Street, East Walpole on Monday, January 30, 2017 at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow in Mount Benedict Cemetery in West Roxbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Trustees of the Reservation, 572 Essex Street, Beverly, MA 01915, to help support her favorite place, Bird Park.