Anna K. Monk

Anna K. Monk, 89, of Middlebury Center, passed away as the sun rose over the first day of a new year. She was surrounded by her children and many of her large family. She was born on February 21, 1936, in Blossburg, the daughter of the late Fred and Clara (Southard) Day. She married Harold J. Monk, Sr. on Aug. 12,1953 and celebrated 63 years of marriage until his passing on May 31, 2017.

Anna was a homemaker for most of her life. She was well known for her sewing abilities. During the Cabbage Patch Doll shortage, she was approached to make a similar doll because the originals were unavailable. Her dolls were so sought after that she started taking special orders and she could no longer keep track of how many she had made. The number will exceed 2,000 dolls throughout the whole United Staes, Germany, Canada and Mexico. If it could be sewn, Anna could sew it. When arthritis made it too difficult to create her dolls she began making bears. Many Bunny Bears are being snuggled by children (and adults) throughout the surrounding areas and other states.

Anna was seldom called by her birth name. She was Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Grandma Skip, Mom-Mom, Aunt Bunny or Grandma Bunny. All who came to know her called her by a name filled with affection. And she returned that affection.

Anna loved nutcrackers. Anyone who came to her house marveled at her collection. From very small to very tall, she loved them all but most importantly, she loved the many people in her life who added to her collection every year.

Anna is survived by sons: Harold (Robin) “Skip” Monk, Jr. of Tioga; David (Debbie) “Crockett” Monk of Lawrenceville; Hazel (Millard) Smith-Guild of Addison, NY; a son-ion-law, Jim Luther; 22 grandchildren, 59 great grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren. In addition to her husband and parents, Anna was preceded in death by daughters: Judy Southard, and Bonnie Luther, grandchildren: Joelene Monk, and Scott Luther, and siblings: Donald, Freddie, Charles, Vera, Florence, iris, Dolores, and Judy.

A memorial service will be held at the Tioga Fire Hall at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial contributions in Anna’s name be made to St Judes Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, or to the Wellspring Community Support Services, P.O. Box 574, Mansfield, PA 16933, or to Tioga County Special Olympics, specialolympicspa.org. Anna’s family has entrusted her arrangements to the Tussey-Mosher Funeral home, 139 Main St., Wellsboro. To share a memory or condolence with her family, visit www.tusseymosher.com.