Chelsea State Bank ad

Chelsea has lost an amazing friend in Ann Feeney

By Lisa Allmendinger

At 3:30 a.m. on Monday, July 27, Chelsea lost one of its greatest residents.

Ann Feeney passed on yesterday morning surrounded by family at the home she loved on Washington Street.

For those of you who might not know some of the many “jobs” Ann took on while as a City of Chelsea resident, I’ll list just a small number with which I am familiar.

In addition to being an amazing mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Ann made history when she was elected as the city’s first woman mayor and ran the most efficient, no nonsense City Council meetings I’ve ever covered as a reporter. She was also part of the transition team that moved Chelsea from being a village to a city.

Ann raised her hand and offered to serve as the City of Chelsea’s Downtown Development Authority board secretary for many years and created the most accurate and readable minutes of any board I’ve ever covered.

Prior to this, she also served on the Chelsea District School’s Board of Education and from what I’ve been told, Ann was one of the most active and thoughtful board members who have stepped up to shepherd the best interests of the city’s youth.

On countless occasions, Ann was among the many volunteers weeding, watering and planting the city’s downtown planters. As an active member of the Chelsea Area Garden Club, she was a source of great beauty for the City of Chelsea.

When I moved to the Chelsea community more than 20 years ago, Ann Feeney was one of the first public officials I met. As a reporter for the Ann Arbor News, I introduced myself to the entire City Council and she cordially reciprocated. I liked her upon first meeting. So, pleasantries over, I asked Ann if I could call her if I needed help or an explanation of an issue. She looked me square in the eye and agreed — with a caveat. I will help you, but don’t screw up.

I promised her that I would do my best to get it right.

As the months passed, I called Ann frequently relying on her as a source of fabulous institutional knowledge about all things Chelsea. She never let me down and she always knew the answers.

During that first year, one day Ann said to me, “You are the first reporter I’ve dealt with that consistently gets it right.”

And from that point until today, I knew I had earned her respect. And each time we’d cross paths, our conversations were always a special treat. I’d come home and be renewed that if Ann believed in what I was trying to accomplish that I was succeeding.

I was honored to be asked to be part of a panel of women in Chelsea who were trailblazers. Ann and I sat next to each other telling our stories to a large crowd in The Depot. She told the crowd that night that I was still the only reporter she knew who always got it right.  She was an avid supporter and reader of Chelsea Update.

High praise from someone who I considered a mentor and a friend.

Words cannot begin to express how much I’ll miss our chats or her guidance.

And as a postscript, I know if I could call her and ask permission to publish this story, she’d tell me “Well, you got it right, but it’s really not necessary.”

Despite the countless things Ann Feeney did for the City of Chelsea in her lifetime, she never sought press accolades for her many accomplishments.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

10 thoughts on “Chelsea has lost an amazing friend in Ann Feeney”

  1. I am so sorry to hear about Ann Feeney. A fine person and very giving of herself to help Chelsea non-profits
    and the village.

    She would say kind words and make your day better.

    Carolyn McNagny

  2. Lisa, yes we have lost another one of our leaders. What a wonderful tribute to her.
    I was also blessed to have known her.

  3. Ann, I have so many wonderful memories……gifts for me.❤️Say hi to Syl, Carol, Bev, and Jos.p

  4. Ann was indeed one of the finest people I knew in Chelsea, whether in politics, in church or anywhere else in the community; I was always proud to know her as our Mayor and to seek her wisdom whenever it was needed. She has taken her dignity to heaven where she can now share it with her newest friends; and there will be many. God bless you and keep you Ann! You will be missed…

  5. We will truly miss seeing Ann in the neighborhood on her walks by our house. Diana & I have come to enjoy chatting with her and enjoying her friendly warmth. We are honored to have known her.

  6. Wonderful tribute, Lisa. Thank you for sharing your personal memories and feelings so beautifully.
    💐

Comments are closed.

More News

April 20: Midwest Literary Walk

March 21, 2024

Recent Crime: Forcible Burglary to Business

March 21, 2024

April 8: Election Security in Washtenaw County Zoom Presentation

March 21, 2024

April 4: Virtual Meeting for 2024 County-Wide Resurfacing Program

March 21, 2024

Jackie Dell Receives MHSAA/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award

March 20, 2024

Chelsea Police Department February Monthly Report

March 20, 2024

March 21: What’s on the Chelsea Downtown Development Authority Agenda

March 20, 2024

Chelsea City Council Draft Minutes from March 4

March 20, 2024

April 8-13: Free College Week at Washtenaw Community College

March 20, 2024

March 20: Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting Cancelled

March 20, 2024

What Can Faith in Action Do For You?

March 19, 2024

2023 Chelsea Senior Center Community Impact Report

March 19, 2024

March 20: Support Chelsea Elementary PTO By Dining at Culver’s

March 19, 2024

March 19: What’s on the Planning Commission Agenda

March 19, 2024

Lyndon Township Seeks Local Roads Advisory Committee Volunteer

March 19, 2024

March 17-23: National Agriculture Week

March 18, 2024

March 26: March Afterhours Book Club at Serendipity Books

March 18, 2024

March 18: What’s on the Chelsea City Council Agenda

March 18, 2024

Reminder: Fundraiser Poetry Reading at Chelsea First UMC March 21

March 18, 2024

March 19: What’s on the Chelsea Area Fire Authority Agenda

March 18, 2024

March 17-23: Severe Weather Awareness Week

March 18, 2024