Anne Mary Halling Cipriano

Anne Mary Halling Cipriano, 94, passed away on May 14, 2023, in her home, just as she wanted.
Anne loved the color green and sunflowers, springing from being born on a farm in Doniphan County, KS, the ninth of 12 children. Learning about all things was her passion; in grade school read all she could on Africa, one of her life long passions. After graduating from Mount Saint Scholastica College in Atchison, KS, her first teaching position was in a three mile walk to a one-room schoolhouse in Kansas, with duties including lighting the stove daily. To aid her desire to see the world, she was employed by the US Defense Department to teach military dependents in Europe. Nine days after arriving in Germany, she travelled to North Africa. Anne loved Lily of the Valley flowers, which were her wedding bouquet when she married Lt. Alexander Cipriano, in Wertheim, Germany, in 1956. Living the military life, they, along with their five children, traveled extensively and lived in 30 different homes during their 64-year marriage. At each station, they created a home, friends, a garden, and adventures.
After retiring, Anne and Alex established a home in York County, where she continued her love of learning by working at the York County Public Library, Colonial Williamsburg, and by earning a Master’s in Divinity from Loyola University. Deeply spiritual, a devoted Catholic, and member of Saint Joan of Arc Church, she dedicated her second career to church activities, including teaching bible study to non-English speakers, and returning Catholics programs.
Anne loved beads, quilting, and antiques. She was an expert in these and in African and Native American art. She was named a Cultural Ambassador to Mali in 2005. She could grow anything in the garden, taking ‘sticks’ and turning them into flowering hydrangeas; there were always flowers in the house and something homemade baking. She taught family and all she met to find the excitement of anticipation and celebrating all things, large and small. Anne loved to share her knowledge and to learn from others. Up to her last days, she would say that curiosity was the first step to learning.
Predeceased by Alex and son Stephen, Anne is survived by her children Joy (along with Jeff, grandchildren Aaron with Megan, and Joshua Kaye), Lisa (with grandchildren Samantha with Ben, and Sara Smiley, greatgrand Easton), Eric, and Marc (along with Marty Pope), along with Jessica, her dear caregiver.
Visitation will be will be held at Saint Joan of Arc Church at 315 Harris Grove Lane in Yorktown, VA on May 19, 2023 at 3 p.m., followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 4 p.m. A reception hosted by the church community. Inurnment will take place at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity Food for the Poor at https://www.foodforthepoor.org/ for fresh water provision, or to the charity of your choice.