Peggy Sue Anthony

Peggy Suzanne Anthony (Howard), age 76, of Odenton, Maryland passed away Saturday, July 30, 2022, at 3:49 pm, from ovarian cancer. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 1, 1945, to Mildred Louise Howard (Herzberger) and she spent her childhood as a resident of Woodall Street in Locust Point with her mother, older brother, “Butch”, older sister, Joan and Joan’s three children, Deb, Terri, and Ray Atkinson. Growing up so close in age with her nieces and nephew, Peggy forged a special bond that has remained to this day.

Peggy graduated from Southern High School at Federal Hill in 1963, where she was active in a capella choir. It was there she met the love of her life, Eugene “Gene” Paul Anthony, who she wed on February 12th, 1966, in a red and white Valentine’s-Day-themed ceremony. She always said she was so fortunate to have married her best friend. Their first apartment together was on South Charles Street in Baltimore, and they bought their first small house on Barney Street in South Baltimore, before settling into their true home together in Pasadena, Maryland, where they raised their two children (Laurie and Todd).

Peggy’s children remember fondly how special she made all the holidays but most especially how magical she made Christmas. Christmas traditions included trips to Valley View Farms Christmas shop and drives to historic Ellicott City, cookie jars overflowing with holiday goodies, oyster stew, and piles of presents. The Anthonys spent many happy summers together camping on Chincoteague Island, VA, and Peggy and Gene enjoyed going dancing together at the Moose Lodge. Peggy often said those were the happiest days of her life.

A lifelong reader, talented writer, and a master at solving the New York Times crossword puzzles, Peggy worked as a professional proofreader for most of her life, retiring from the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. on May 1, 2013. She always dreamed of traveling the world, and in her 60s she summoned her courage, boarded a plane, and conquered her fears, traveling nearly 3000 miles for her first flight to Portland, Oregon. Her love of animals, most especially of dogs (who she called "Angels without wings") was known to all who met her. Peggy was a devout Christian and often shared that she was so glad she found God or as she liked to say, “That he found me,” when she attended vacation bible school in the summers at Salem Church near Riverside Park as a child.

She was preceded in death by her niece, Terri Renee Eminizer (Atkinson) of Brooklyn Park, her older sister, Joan Mildred Atkinson (Howard) of Brooklyn Park, her mother, Mildred Louise Howard (Herzberger) of South Baltimore, and her beloved husband, Eugene Paul Anthony of Pasadena. All of whom were so very dear to her heart.

She is survived by her eldest daughter Laurie Heinz and Laurie’s husband, Allan; her son, Todd Anthony, and his wife, Vanessa; her granddaughter, Madison, and Madison’s husband, Damon; and her grandson, Juno; as well as her brother, William “Butch” Howard and his wife, Janice.

Family and friends may visit Kirkley Ruddick Funeral Home ( 421 Crain Highway, S.E. Glen Burnie, Maryland 21061 ) for a memorial gathering from 10:30 am to 12 pm and a funeral service to follow immediately after from noon to 1 pm. Internment is at Cedar Hill Cemetery (5829 Ritchie Hwy, Baltimore, MD 21225).

* Due to health conditions, vaccination status, and recent COVID infections, family members (and Peggy herself) requested that all in attendance be masked both inside the funeral home and at the gravesite. We thank you for your polite compliance with this request.

“God has been good to me. I have been truly blessed and am so grateful! So, I would like to say thank you God for a good life FULL of blessings and wonderful memories. My heart is full of thankfulness.”

—Peggy Anthony

For those desiring, memorial donations may be made in Peggy's memory to:

Senior Dog Haven & Hospice https://www.facebook.com/SeniorDogHaven/
Peggy's love of animals, most especially of dogs (who she called "Angels without wings.") was known by all who met her. She personally, regularly donated to Senior Dog Haven and Hospice. She has left a donation to them as well in her final wishes.
"The mission of Senior Dog Haven & Hospice is to rescue and re-home senior dogs (age 7 and older) and to offer hospice care to rescued senior dogs in our program."

OCRA (Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance) https://www.facebook.com/OCRAHOPE/
We lost Peggy to ovarian cancer and the family would like to help support research, treatments, and efforts towards a cure for this devastating disease.
"Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) is the oldest and largest ovarian cancer charity in the world. As the largest private funder of ovarian cancer research, OCRA is also the only ovarian cancer-dedicated voice on Capitol Hill continuously advocating for hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding provided by the National Cancer Institute and Department of Defense, as well as for related health policies that will benefit patients and survivors."

Peggy's family thanks you for your donation.