Ann L Eck

Ann Louise Farnsworth Eck, beloved wife, mother, G’ma, and teacher, passed away peacefully in the early morning of Saturday, October 7, 2023. Born September 10, 1942, in Syracuse, NY, Ann was a life-long teacher and learner. After graduating in May 1960 from the Jamesville-DeWitt High School she attended the Pennsylvania State University graduating with honors in June,1964. Ann was a member of the Mortar Board Society and an active member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. Ann recently learned from a former classmate that she earned the Outstanding Senior Award when a stone statue of the Nittany Lion arrived in the mail commemorating her honor. It had not been bestowed to her after graduation as she was at the University of Madrid earning a master’s degree through New York University. Ann’s perfect grammar in English and Spanish served thousands of students well during her extensive career in education beginning as a teacher and Foreign Language Department Chair in Jamesville-Dewitt, NY and then 32 years of teaching and leading at Cherry Hill High School East, NJ. During this career Ann earned a Doctorate Degree in Education Administration from Temple University and worked with the educational testing system to score advanced placement exams. Ann was known by her students to be exact in her feedback and always a supporter of their growth. She labored over grading essays and writing letters of recommendations. The rewards were beautiful as she met her former students as doctors, lawyers, opera singers and diplomats. Retirement from public education did not stop Ann’s service to the community. She taught English to Spanish-speaking students, became a Deacon at Old Pine Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia where she regularly shared her love of cooking and serving for the Saturday for Seniors program as part of the Church. Ann also studied and became a Docent at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, leading the education committee and providing tours in Fairmount Park. Ann is preceded in death by her parents Irene Muncy and Jerome Farnsworth, her brother Jerome M. Farnsworth (Barbara) and sister Susan F. Ballard (Bill). Ann is survived by her beloved husband Robert O. Eck, son Scott A. Eck (Mary Ellen), daughter Heather Eck Murphree (Mark) and her favorite people her grandchildren Casey Elizabeth, Riley Grace and Sean Michael. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at Old Pine Presbyterian Church at 4th and Pine Streets in Philadelphia, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Old Pine Presbyterian Church.