Obituary of Anita Mary Penn

Anita Mary (Brady) Penn, age 79, a long time resident of Danbury, passed away peacefully on Sunday March 1, 2020 surrounded by her loving family while listening to Elvis songs. She was the widow of Capt. Charles Varence Penn, a Vietnam Veteran, KIA. Anita was born November 20, 1940 in Bronx, New York daughter of the late Edward and Eileen (Nichols) Brady. She graduated from St. Gabriel High School in New Rochelle, NY, attended Hunter College in NYC and graduated from Western Connecticut State University where she received her BS and MS in Social Work. Anita moved to Danbury in March 1970 after the death of her husband in 1969. Over the years, Anita and her children welcomed into their home families from other countries who needed a fresh start, hosted foreign exchange students as well as offered troubled youths a safe haven. She retired after working for many years as a Case Manager with the Connecticut Department of Social Services and was a communicant of St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church in Danbury. As a young mother, Anita enjoyed being the neighborhood mom hosting pool parties, sleepovers, amusement park days and road trip adventures with her full size van loaded with kids, snacks and laughter. During her final years Anita enjoyed watching Dr. Phil, Jeopardy, HGTV and American Idol while her beloved dog Daisy sat beside her. Anita enjoyed last winter as a Florida resident where she made immediate friends while walking her dog Daisy along the palm tree lined sidewalks. Anita enjoyed a good bargain at local tag sales and donation centers...even when she found something she didn’t need or would ever use. It was the thrill of the hunt. Anita was a very funny woman with an easy laugh. Her adult children and their friends always loved when she joined them at backyard gathering or events. Even the grandkids got a kick out of Anita’s youthful exuberance and humor. She was not your typical grandmother. She was very proud of her children and grandchildren. Tolerance, acceptance, forgiveness and understanding held more value than trophy’s, diplomas and fancy titles. Anita didn’t measure success by the thickness of your wallet or the zip code of your home. It was the size of your heart and the kindness in your soul that impressed her. Even under the worst of circumstances Anita was a forgiving and selfless woman. Anita is survived by her children: Jo Penn and her partner Chris Loudon of Brookfield, Mary Penn and her husband Bryon Burger of Danbury and Chuck Penn and his wife Sandy of Danbury and her honorary son, Steve Champlain and his wife Rosemary; her siblings: Eileen Brady of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Cecelia “Nibs” Mullen of Montauk, NY and Ed Brady and his wife Alice Mary of Monroe; her grandchildren: Varence, Brady and Scarlett Penn-Kast and Connor Firmender, her step grandchildren Melissa Burger and Bryan Burger, and her great grandchildren Blake and Logan, several nieces and nephews, as well as her former daughter in law Tracy Chisholm, and her former sons in law Wayne Firmender and David Kast. The family will be holding a private memorial ceremony. Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery where she will rest in peace beside her beloved husband. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, please offer a small kindness to a neighbor or stranger. Reach out to family member that you’ve lost touch with. She’d like that.