Anna Marie McConnell, 94, passed away peacefully at Briarwood Assisted Living on Saturday, November 15th, 2025. She was born in New York City, NY on February 11th, 1931 to parents Ferdinand (Fred) and Hannah Zacharias.

Anna was raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut and studied music at the University of Bridgeport. A talented vocal artist, she sang in St. Andrew's Episcopal Church choir in Manhattan before discerning a call as a teacher. She accepted a position as preschool teacher in New York City. Soon after, she helped open St. Mark's Lutheran School in Brooklyn, where she worked as principal. Later, she taught at St. John's Lutheran School and Our Savior Lutheran School in Queens, until her retirement.

In 1966 she married John McConnell. They had two children, John Paul McConnell (d. 1969) and Christa Marie McConnell. While John worked as a peace activist with the United Nations, Anna provided for the family and worked hard to raise her daughter. In 2002, Anna and John moved to Denver to be close to Christa and her family. In her later years, she enjoyed much time reading, writing her life's memoirs, and spending time with her three grandchildren.

Anna to those who knew her was a woman of peace, quiet strength, and prayer. She brought peaceful order to the spaces she occupied--- her apartment in Denver was always an inviting and serene place of refuge. She was a woman of strong faith who trusted in the Lord, and who warmly shared her faith with her daughter and grandchildren.

Anna is preceded in death by her parents, Ferdinand (Fred) and Hannah Zacharias, her son John Paul McConnell, her brother Paul Zacharias, and her husband John McConnell. She is survived by her daughter, Christa Marie Mason, and her three granddaughters, Hannah, Bethany, and Mary Mason.

A memorial service will be held on on January 2nd, 2026 at 1:00 P.M at Bethlehem Lutheran Church 2100 Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO 80214. Here is the link to her service for those who couldn't make it: https://vimeo.com/1156625794/b8d701dbc2?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci .

For her friends and family on the east coast, a memorial service followed by burial of her ashes will be held Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 at 2 P.M. at Mountain Grove Cemetery 2675 North Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604.

Mrs. Anna McConnell was passionate about the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) school educational system. Donations can be made to Bethlehem Lutheran school , Lakewood CO, or your local LCMS school in lieu of flowers.