Anne Donoghue

Anne (Josie) Donoghue, née Cleary, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on March 11, 2026, in Toms River, New Jersey. She was 97. Born on July 6, 1928, in the Bronx, New York, Anne spent many of her early years on the family farm in County Clare, Ireland, before returning to New York. In 1957 she married Robert Donoghue, and together they settled in Tappan, New York, where they raised their six children.

Anne worked for many years as an administrative assistant for the Archdiocese of New York, supporting the church’s mission with dedication and grace. Later she brought her organizational talents to her daughter’s law firm in Toms River, New Jersey. Her deep Catholic faith guided every aspect of her life. In Tappan she taught CCD, served as a Eucharistic Minister at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and was an active Girl Scout leader. In 1990 she became a Dominican Associate at the Dominican Convent in Sparkill, New York. After moving to Toms River in 1997, she continued her service as Coordinator of Religious Education at St. Luke’s Church for ten years, while also participating in the Rosary Altar Society, teaching CCD, and ministering as a Eucharistic Minister.

Anne’s love of Irish music and her skill at the piano brought warmth and joy to family gatherings and community events alike. Predeceased by her husband Robert in 1988, she is survived by her children Stephen Donoghue of Pahrump, Nevada; Mary Donoghue-VanSaders and her husband Robert of Freehold, New Jersey; Jean Donoghue-Simon and her husband Lionel of Toms River, New Jersey; Claire Knox and her husband Thomas of Tallahassee, Florida; Robert Donoghue Jr. and his wife Gloria of Toms River, New Jersey; and Mark Donoghue of San Diego, California. She is also survived by her brother Noel Cleary and his wife Anne of Charlottesville, Virginia, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and thirty-six nieces and nephews. Her long life was defined by quiet strength, unwavering faith, and profound devotion to her family.