Ann Marie Marchese Barranco, 88, passed away Friday, August 16, 2013. She was born on September 6, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, to Dominica (Minnie) and Nicholas Marchese.  Ann grew up in Brooklyn with two sisters and two brothers.  She and her sisters were employed in the New York garment district. She would tell about them making swim suits, and later sewed for her family. 

Ann was 18 years old when she met the “love of her life” Sam. He always loved to tell “their” story of how he met Ann. Sam was serving in the United States Army, and while on leave was skating at Bay Ridge Roller Rink in Brooklyn. He saw Ann and tripped her so he could arrange to meet her. Soon after, he enjoyed many home cooked meals, and would bring her flowers he had picked from the house around the corner. 

Sam and Ann were married on December 30, 1945, and moved to Beaumont where Sam had family and worked with his father, Frank, in their grocery store located at Houston and Washington Boulevard. Ann worked by Sam’s side, and together they raised four daughters.

Eventually they opened grocery stores at Bob and Virginia¸ and then on 4th Street where they began making donuts. Later, they opened Barranco’s Southern Maid Donuts on Magnolia, and then moved to East Lucas to open Barranco’s Bakery & Donut Shop until retirement in 2005 at the age of 81. They were well known for their square donuts and French bread in the shape of alligators. 

In her free time, Ann enjoyed reading, sitting on her porch swing, feeding the birds, working outside with her plants, and growing vegetables. She loved all animals, especially her dogs. Ann referred to them all as her “babies”. She enjoyed selling Avon, and was involved in the Italian American Society, and the Ladies of St. Pius. Ann always had a pot of coffee on for their friends who stopped by to visit, along with her homemade desserts from a favorite recipe, or one she had just torn out of a magazine.

Ann and Sam were blessed with many wonderful friends. She and Sam could often be found playing penny poker nearly every weekend, or going to a dance where she was always dressed to the nines.

Survivors include her husband of sixty-seven years, Sam Salvador Barranco; daughters, Christine (Chris) Thompson and her husband, Richard, of Austin; and Diane Duplechain and her husband, Ronnie; and Carol Ann Sanders and her husband, Robert III, all of Lumberton; and adopted mother of Damian, Rose Benham of  North Richland Hills; grandchildren, Damian and Amy Barranco of Haltom City, Brandi and Tommy Smith of Warren, Jason and Robin Duplechain of Kountze, Brittany, Bailey, and Brooklyn Broussard, and Brooke, Mary, and Madison Sanders, all of Lumberton; great-grandchildren, Dustin, Dillon, and Taylor of Silsbee; Drake and Dallas of Warren; Jeanene (Nina), Gage, Riley, and Shelby of Kountze, and Hanna of Haltom City; and great-great-grandchildren, Benton Levi and Jackson, both of Silsbee.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents, Dominica (Minnie) and Nicholas Marchese; sisters, Helen Niespolo and Rose Cunzo; brothers, Joseph Marchese and Donald Marchese; and daughter, Santina (Sandy) Barranco.

Ann was a loving wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, and great-great-grandma who always put everyone else first before herself. She will be truly missed and remembered for her love of cheesecake, chocolate, and her wonderful home cooked meals.

We always told daddy that mom was going to be a “saint” one day for putting up with him. The man never changed one diaper, boiled water, or cooked anything. Mom spoiled him rotten.

We would like to sincerely thank our extended family for being so wonderful; and Ann's amazing friends for their love and devotion shown to her throughout her life. Each of you meant so very much to her and to our family. We would also like to thank Summer Place Beaumont for their kindness and loving care.

Ann was a gift from God to each of us, and we are all blessed to have had her in our lives.

She will live in our hearts forever.

A Memorial Mass for Mrs. Barranco will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 7, 2013, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 5075 Bigner Road, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Ann Marie Barranco to St. Pius X Catholic Church, 5075 Bigner Road, Beaumont, Texas 77708 or to Spurlock Road Veterinarian Clinic, c/o Bound 4 the Pound, 2400 Highway 69 North, Nederland, Texas 77627.