Anne passed away peacefully after a brief illness on June 11, 2024, at her home with children and grandchildren visiting.
Born October 7, 1926, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Mathias Decker and Anna Decker, she had an older sister, Margaret and a younger brother, Edward. Her parents were both immigrants and the family spoke German in the household, so she had to learn English autodidactically when she started school. They moved to Cincinnati when she was about the age of 5 due to the hardship of the depression and parents’ employment opportunities in Cincinnati.
After attending Withrow High School in Cincinnati, she worked at The Cincinnati Milling Machine Company during and shortly after World War II, contributing to the war effort.
On November 23, 1946, Anne married the one and only love of her life, Edward Brookbank and they were together for almost 54 years until his death in 2000. They had four children: Nancy Higby (Paul), Cincinnati, Steve Brookbank (Kathy), Muncie, IN, Kim Hubble (Steve), Eagle, CO, and Karen McCabe (Tim), Cincinnati, all surviving her.
Anne had eight grandchildren: Dawn (Higby) Louis (Eric), Rob Higby (Sara), Jill Higby, all of Cincinnati, Christine Marcuccilli (Ralph), Fort Wayne, IN, Jennifer Brookbank, Los Angeles, CA, Debby Pittenger (Andy) and Adam Brookbank, Muncie, IN, and Dylan McCabe, Cincinnati, and nine great grandchildren, all surviving her.
In addition to her husband, she was also predeceased by her parents, her sister, and her brother.
While managing her household, raising her children, and actively participating in the growth of her grand-children, Anne supported the family business, doing all the accounting and payroll for Eastern Hills Plumbing and Heating throughout its existence. She was a Cub Scout den mother and a Brownie and Girl Scout leader. She cared for her father and her mother-in-law as they aged. She enjoyed swimming with her children and grandchildren at the Sunlite Pool at Coney Island and was an active member there for many years.
Anne was a devoted member of the Catholic Church throughout her life. She grew up in St. Anthony Parish in Madisonville. In her young adult years, she was a member to the Rosary Alter Society and for years a lead organizer of the chicken dinners at the festivals of St. Jerome Parish. She attended and supported St. Mary’s in Hyde Park and St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie, Florida before returning to Cincinnati and St. Veronica Parish.
A memorial mass will be at St. Veroncia in Mt. Carmel on Friday, June 21, 2024, at 11:00am. Friends and family may call an hour before the mass. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to St. Veronica Catholic School, McNicholas High School or Purcell-Marian High School.
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