Anna M. (Hill) Raftery

Anna M. (Hill) Raftery of Canton passed away surrounded by her loving family and the caring and compassionate staff of the Copley Rehabilitation Center on October 7, 2021, she was 95.

    Anna was born in Boston on August 24, 1926 to the late Frederick and Mary Hill.  Anna lived and worked throughout the greater New England and Boston areas for much of her life. She wed the love of her life, Joseph P. “Dick” Raftery and found her true home in Canton, Massachusetts, where she has lived for over forty years.  Anna converted from English Protestant to Roman Catholic so that she and Dick could worship in the same house of God, mostly as members of the St. John the Evangelist Parish in Canton. Though she was a religious convert, Anna fiercely clung to her English heritage and could often be heard playfully jousting with her Irish husband.

    Anna held many jobs throughout her life, but always saw her most important one as being a mother to her children and then “nana” to her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Never having gotten a driver’s license, she could often be seen walking throughout the Town of Canton.  From Cobb’s Corner to the closest Dunkin Donuts she would walk miles a day and interact with the members of the community, whether it was buying coffee for police officer’s working on the road or bread to feed the ducks, she always looked out for the welfare of others.

    Anna loved to play bingo and the excitement of the occasional gambling trip and would spend much of her time with her son and daughter-in-law in these pursuits. She would enjoy taking random car rides with her son and daughter and would ask to travel to stores out of town to shop so that she could enjoy more of their time.

    Anna is survived by five children; her daughter Nadine J. Daley and her husband Wayne of Canton; her son John Bourne and his wife Mindy of Rockland; her son Joseph Bourne and his wife Mary of Dorchester; her son Kevin Bourne of North Attleboro; and her son Thomas Raftery of Randolph. She was predeceased by her son Thomas Bourne and her daughter Darlene Bourne, both of Boston. She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren. Anna was predeceased by one grandchild. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, October 13^th in St. John the Evangelist Church 700 Washington St., Canton at 10:30. Interment St. Mary’s cemetery, Canton. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Arrangements by the Pushard Funeral Home 210 Sherman St., Canton

    In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Anna’s memory to the American Cancer Society.

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