Obituary: Anna W. Varney

Former Rockville Centre nursery school teacher dies

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Anna W. Varney, a village resident for more than 50 years, died in the comfort of her home with her oldest son at her side on Dec. 9, of complications from recurring pneumonia. She was 90-years-old and had managed to keep up her spirits through the last several years while enduring pain from various health complications.

Known to many as Nan, she was born in 1921 in Brooklyn to J. Morris and Katherine W. Wilkinson. She graduated from the Brooklyn Adelphi Academy in 1939 and attended Wells College. She was on the high school varsity hockey and basketball teams, was an avid tennis player, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was a secretary to Dr. Charles G. Child III at the New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center and assisted him with research and the manuscript for his book “The Hepatic Circulation and Portal Hypertension.”

Varney married her husband, William F., a lifelong village resident on Feb. 5, 1955 and moved to Rockville Centre that same year. She was active in the community at many levels. Varney was a Cub Scout den leader in Pack 38 for both of her sons and a Girl Scout troop leader for her daughter. She was an active member of St. Marks United Methodist Church as a nursery school teacher and was a past president of the United Methodist Women. She worked tirelessly supporting her husband in his numerous community activities, including organizing the Boy Scout Civic Day for 45 years, the annual United Fund drives and assisting with his tenure as a Republican committeeman — to mention a few.

She was a loving caregiver to her family and will be missed by all.

Varney was predeceased by her husband, sister Katherine E. Smith and brother Thomas P. Wilkinson. She is survived by son William F. III (Robin L.,) daughter Janice W. Baker (David A.), son Thomas W. (Isis L.) and grandchildren Sarah W. Robison (Baker), Christopher J. Baker and Thomas W. Jr., William F. IV, Daniel D. and Matthew W. Varney.

The funeral was held at the Thomas A. Glynn Funeral Home on Dec. 13. The Rev. Roger Dick Johns, former minister of St. Marks United Methodist Church, conducted the funeral service. Burial was in the family plot in Rockville Cemetery, Lynbrook.