Feisty and fun, with a contagious joy of life, Anne Marie Larkin McJilton lived life to the fullest each day. Possessing an amazing stamina and energy, equal to someone half her age, Anne managed to pack in wonderful times, lots of laughter and last memories for family and friends during her life.
Surrounded by family and friends, Anne died peacefully on June 30, 2009 after a 2 1/2 year battle with lung cancer. During the years following her diagnosis and before her death, Anne exhibited grace, generosity and courage that will serve as a model for all whose lives were touched by her.
With a touch of red in her hair, Anne, as a young child, exhibited the determination and straightforward demeanor that have characterized her throughout her life. She was born in Manhattan, NY on February 22, 1943 to the late Joseph and Margaret (Ryan) Larkin.
Anne married Roy McJilton in 1972. They lived in Franklin, Pa. for 12 years, where Anne focused her attention on their three children and running the household. In 1984, Anne, Roy and the children moved to Lumberton, NC, where Roy opened an ENT practice. During this time, with their two older children leaving for college, Anne returned to school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to get her masters in social work. Anne subsequently worked as a social worker and therapist for many years. In her later professional life, she served on several state boards.
In 2000, Anne and Roy moved to Chapel Hill to build their dream retirement home on some acreage just outside town. It was when Anne moved to North Carolina that she began her second love affair – with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Never one to do anything half way, Anne became a well-informed, vocal fan, always scouting the teams UNC would be playing and offering vocal encouragement while attending or watching every UNC game. In most recent years, Anne kept “office hours†at Fosters each morning and often reported sightings of her beloved Tar Heels.
Anne and Roy shared a love of laughter, books, travel, movies and the theater. Anne amazed all who knew her with her encyclopedic memory of books, authors, actors, movies; no detail was too small.
Although an adopted Southerner, Anne never lost her love for New York City. She and Roy went a couple of times each year up to the big city to watch plays at night and catch a few movies during the day. They made their last trip this past winter and enjoyed it mightily.
After her diagnosis, Anne began working to turn her social game of bridge into a more polished scholarly game. She took lessons and studied the intricacies of bridge, and in the last year had started accumulating master’s points.
Anne loved spending time with her three adult children and their families. She was particularly proud of her four grandchildren. She cherished the time she spent shopping, going to the movies, babysitting, attending track meets, plays, other sports events and band performances with the grandchildren. She kept her friends well informed of the latest accomplishments of all the family members.
Anne McJilton, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, friend, social worker and therapist. She reveled in every role.
Anne is survived by her husband, Roy A. McJilton; their three children and five grandchildren, Mike Suvick and wife Kristen, of Pittsburgh and their children Graham, Kendyl and Paige; Brian Suvick and wife Laura of Hillsborough, NC and their child Hana; and Meagan Holcomb and husband Chris of Greenville, NC; a sister, Kathy Archambault, and husband Tom of Chester, Conn.; a nephew, Taylor Archambault, and wife Nicole of Hartford, Conn.; and Anne and Roy’s beloved furry child, Daisy. She also leaves behind her an extended family of McJiltons and a group of adoring friends who will miss her. Anne’s legacy lives on in her family and friends who have all benefited from her gifts. The family wishes to thank the UNC Oncology Department and UNC Hospice for the loving care given to Anne during her illness.