By Mary Ann Cestare Ramshorn

Anna Rita Cestare (nee McLaughlin), born July 24, 1922, died suddenly July 14, 2000. Ann as her family and friends called her was one of the WWII GI brides to buy her first home in Levittown on Sandpiper Ln. in November 1949 with her husband Russell Phillip Cestare Sr.

In the early months Ann watched Levittown grow from muddy potato fields to new homes. Ann remembered Hempstead Tpke. with few stores and going to church meant going to the Meadowbrook movies, until Holy Family Church was built.

Ann and Russ sold that home and moved south of the turnpike, in order to open the Flame Lounge and later the Flame Liquors, both in the A&P (now the post office) Shopping Center on Gardiners Ave. Ann was the inspiration for the name, with her red hair. She was the luncheon cook and then the cashier. She was active in community service, an early member in the then newly formed Ladies Auxiliary of the Levittown Fire Dept., as Russ was a charter member of Engine Co. #2. Ann was also a Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout cookie mom, St. Bernard Rosarian, Catholic Daughter of the Americas and a Columbiette from Holy Innocents Council.

Ann lived for more than four decades on Noell St. in Levittown; from there she watched her four children grow up, marry: Mary Ann to Howard M. Ramshorn. Russell P. Jr. to Susan Thorp, Michael J. to Valerie Sibley and Peter J. to Donna Alaia. Ann welcomed 11 grandchildren: Kathleen, Sally, Barbara, Elizabeth, Katherine, Michael Jr., Debra, Thomas, Lauren, Stephanie and Christopher, also the two husbands of her granddaughters: Kathy to Michael Haliburton and Sally to Adam Gordon Lieberman.

In the fall of 1997, at the wonderful age of 75, Ann moved to Myrtle Beach, with her son Peter, his wife, Donna, and their children, Lauren, Stephanie and Christopher. She continued to be involved in family functions, including the weddings of her grandchildren and the baby showers to usher in the next generation.

On June 21, 2000, with the help of modern technology, she saw her first great-granchild, Ian Gabriel Haliburton, via the Internet. Her family is sure she is picking the best little angel for her next great-grandchild due the end of August.

Ann is finally at rest with her beloved husband, Russ, who predeceased her Nov. 27, 1980, in the National Cemetery at Calverton.

"Jack" to his family, friends and neighbors on Pebble Ln., Levittown, has joined his wife Anne, brother Thomas and his sisters, Anita, Frances and Sister Marie Noel of Queen of the Holy Rosary, Amityville, in heaven. He is survived by his baby sister, Rita Lombardi of Clinton, MA, and by his sons, Michael of Cheshire, CT, Walter of Wyanet, IL, Patrick of Southampton, PA, and Thomas N. Langan of Levittown; his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jack was born in Richmond Hill and moved to Garden City in 1919 from Brooklyn. A star baseball player, "who could throw a baseball through a brick wall" as related by his brother-in-law, Monsignor Francis X. Mulhall. Jack graduated from Sewanhaka High School undefeated as a high school pitcher. Upon graduation, Jack passed up baseball scholarship offers from Dartmouth, Villanova and St. John's University in order to help his family during those dark depression years. In 1936 he joined the Garden City Post Office and on April 17, 1937 he married Anne E. Mulhall of Garden City. "My mother's name was Anne and I married Anne in in St. Anne's Church," was the way he described it. In 1969, he retired from the Garden City Post Office as superintendent of mails. He continued his part-time position at Roosevelt Raceway until 1975.

On Aug. 27, 1949, Jack, Anne, Mike, Walter and Pat moved to Pebble Ln. where Thomas Nicolas was born the following year. As members of St. Bernard's RC Church Parish, the family was active in many church and community activities. After Anne's death in 1983, Jack later moved to Cheshire, CT, in 1994, where he lived with his cat Sam in his apartment near the home of his son Mike and wife Alice (Lutjen), three married granddaughters and seven great-grandchildren.

Jack was laid to rest on July 22 at Holy Rood Cemetery beside his wife Annie at the Mulhall family gravesite.