Ann J. Ferguson Obituary
Ann J. Smith Ferguson, 90, of Colonia, N.J., formerly of Westfield and Linden NJ, joined the Lord on Sunday, December 31, 2023 after a brief illness. She was the eldest child of Elizabeth Fireman Michael and Julia Smith and was born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ, where she graduated from St. Mary’s of the Assumption High School.
Ann spent most of her life dedicated to a career in public service where she served as a legislative aide to Assemblyman Thomas Deverin and legislative aide and personal secretary to Mayor John T. Gregorio. The highlight of Ann’s 47-year career in Government was serving as the Executive Director for the Housing Authority of the City of Linden, Executive Director of Linden Housing Corporation and Executive Director Housing Choice Voucher program. She was the first woman in the State of NJ to earn a Public Housing Manager license. Ann’s true passion in life was to serve the senior residents of the three housing towers and took great joy in providing them meals at Thanksgiving, Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day amongst other events and activities.
Ann was a devoted Catholic and served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years at St. Elizabeth Church in Linden as well as serving as a teacher in CCD for First Communion, Confirmation and RCIA classes. For the last several years she attended masses every weekend at Divine Mercy Parish in Rahway.
Ann had many awards bestowed upon her during her life including the Jubilee Medal Pro Meritis Award from Archbishop Theodore Mc Carrick for distinguished service to the Archdiocese of Newark, Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders Citizenship Award, Community Access Citizenship of the Year Award, PBA Local #42 Good Guy Award and United States Department of Housing & Urban Development Best Practice Award for adult day care and hospice services.
She was a member of the Professional Housing Directors Association, National Association for Female Executives and New Jersey Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials amongst many other professional organizations.
Ann was loyal and devoted to her family members and loved them tremendously.
Ann was the beloved wife of 62 years to her late husband Franklin; the proud mother of Mary (Moni) Ferguson and her late husband, Gilbert Brindley; and loving sister of Mary Krech. She was also the dear sister-in-law of Kathleen Smith and her late husband, Michael; and sister of the late Margaret Alberts; Aunt of Joseph Krech and his wife, Diane, William Dalton and his wife, Ellen, Timothy and Patrick Linkevich, Julie Origliato and her husband Gianfranco, Michael Smith ESQ. and his wife Vassilia, Kelly Redd and her husband, Nolan; Great-Aunt to Joseph Krech and his wife, Ashley, Samantha Krech, Megan Dalton, Lucas and Olivia Origliato, Thomas and Charles Redd, Gregory and Alexandros Smith, and Savannah, Emma, Tessa, Callum and Lillianna Krech.
