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Anne B. Dennison de Jong
Anne B. Dennison was born in Pennsylvania in 1921. She had two brothers Ethan A. and Charles P. and in Rye her family lived at 155 Locust Ave. Anne attended Chapin School for Girls in New York, NY. She earned her BA in Education from Bennington College, then her teaching certificate from SUNY Brockport.
Anne enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served as a Seaman 1/c in the WAVES as a Aviation Machinist, graduating from the aviation machinist mate school at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Okla. (See Navy Muster Rolls)
Ann Dennison Seaman 1/c Miss Ann B. Dennison, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ethan A. Dennison, received the rating of seaman first class upon graduating from the aviation machinist mate school at the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Norman, Okla. She will now be transferred to another shore station for further instruction and work. Friday, June 23, 1944 THE RYE CHRONICLE PAGE THIRTEEN
The WAVES served in 900 shore stations in the continental United States. Initially, they were prohibited from serving on ships or outside of the country. In September 1944, the Congress amended the law by allowing the WAVES to volunteer for service in the territories of Alaska and Hawaii. Hawaii was the only overseas station staffed with the WAVES on a permanent basis. The officers were employed in such professions as doctors, attorneys, engineers, mathematicians, and chaplains. Most enlisted WAVES worked in jobs traditionally performed by women, such as clerical work, health care, or storekeeping. A few took over jobs typically held by men, in occupations like aviation machinists, aviation metalsmiths, parachute riggers, control tower operators, radio operators, yeomen, or statisticians.
Upon honorable discharge, she returned to New York and received her MA in Education from Colombia University. Anne lived for adventure. During her time in the Navy, she traveled to Alaska where she fell in love with its beauty and culture, and considered homesteading and teaching.
She decided to return to New York to continue her education, and moved into International House. It was there that she met her husband, Pieter de Jong, a student at Union Theological Seminary. Together they began their greatest adventure of all; they were married in 1952 and moved to Canada, where their four children were born.
In 1965 Anne and her family returned to the US, eventually settling in Madison NJ where Pieter became Acting Dean of the Theological Seminary at Drew University. Anne spent her time as a homemaker, focusing on assuring quality education for her children, and still sharing in the occasional weekend family adventure. Anne was passionate about her family. She also enjoyed traveling, knitting, writing poetry, the occasional quality dessert, and helping anyone who was lucky enough to cross her path.
Anne B. de Jong (Dennison), 94, passed away from natural causes early Sunday morning on September 13, 2013 in Basking Ridge NJ.
At the time of her death, Anne was survived by her 4 children: Alida, Pieter & wife Vikki, Paul & wife Kitty, and Tim & wife Vanessa; 5 granddaughters: Amanda & husband Andy, Sarah, Nicole, Kristina and Li Allison, and one great granddaughter: Grace.
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