{"id":153459,"date":"2023-10-18T08:24:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T14:24:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globaldownsyndrome.org\/?page_id=153459"},"modified":"2025-08-07T11:53:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T17:53:11","slug":"in-loving-memory-of-anna-maria-sie","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.globaldownsyndrome.org\/sq\/in-loving-memory-of-anna-maria-sie\/","title":{"rendered":"In Loving Memory of Anna Maria Sie"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"\u200b<\/p>\n

Anna Maria Sie\u200b<\/strong><\/span>
\nApril 21, 1945 \u2013 September 20, 2023\u200b<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved co-founder, Anna Maria Sie, passed away after a long battle with endometrial cancer. Her relationship with her granddaughter, Sophia, who happens to have Down syndrome, inspired the creation of GLOBAL, the Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, the Sie Center for Down Syndrome, the Alzheimer\u2019s & Cognition Center, the GLOBAL Inclusive Program and so much more.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

GLOBAL will be dedicating our 2023 Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show to her memory and the legacy she leaves for the Down syndrome community. Before she passed, Anna asked that donations be made to GLOBAL in lieu of flowers<\/a>. \u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

We are honored to share a poem that Anna wrote in her last weeks, her obituary and photos from her funeral service. While we are devastated, we are comforted to know that she lives on in the countless people that she touched. \u200b<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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I\u2019m Free\u200b<\/span>
\nA Poem by Anna Sie\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

When tomorrow starts without me,\u200b<\/span>
\nPlease try to understand —\u200b<\/span>
\nAn angel came and called my name.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

I took his hand, I turned my back, I left it all —\u200b<\/span>
\nI could not stay another day\u200b<\/span>
\nTo laugh, to love, to work or play.\u200b<\/span>
\nTasks left undone must stay that way.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

The angel said my place is ready.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

If my parting has left a void,\u200b<\/span>
\nThen fill it with remembered joy.\u200b<\/span>
\nA friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss\u200b<\/span>
\nOh yes these are things that I shall miss.\u200b<\/span><\/p>\n

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.\u200b<\/span>
\nMy life’s been full, I savored much,\u200b<\/span>
\nGood friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.\u200b<\/span>
\nPerhaps my time seemed too brief,\u200b<\/span>
\nDon’t lengthen it now with undue grief.<\/span><\/p>\n

God wanted me now, he set me free.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t

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Honor Her Memory & Become an Anna Sie Champions Circle Member<\/a><\/div>\n\t
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