August 25, 2023
Systrom, Ann
Ann “Nancy” Jane Systrom passed away on the morning of November 14, 2021 at the age of 89 in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. Nancy is survived by two sisters, Deirdre and Rebecca, as well as eight children, thirteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren scattered across the United States.
Born to Rebecca and William Gilmartin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1932, Nancy was the fifth of six children and grew up in the midst of the great depression. She met her future husband, Ernest Systrom, while he was stationed in Pennsylvania at the Valley Forge Military Hospital shortly after World War II. After eloping in September 1948, they would go on to raise their family in Massachusetts, where Ernie was raised and had perfected his Boston accent and charm. While the eight kids were growing up, the family would make summer trips to the Systrom family second home in Falmouth, Massachusetts and later vacation on Drake’s Island in Maine.
Despite starting a family at such a young age, Nancy was able to earn her high school diploma and would go on to pursue a wide variety of professions throughout her life. Her various jobs included selling Singer sewing machines, working at Glover Memorial Hospital in Needham as a dietician’s aide, working as a bookkeeper at American Engineers (formerly Systrom Snowplows), Saint Michael’s liturgical arts, and Cabriole (dance clothing manufacturer), and towards the end of her career serving as the office manager for the Needham Family Medical Practice.
After her children were raised, Nancy would remain in Massachusetts until 2002 when she returned briefly to her hometown of Philadelphia. In 2006 she moved again to Oahu, Hawaii where she would live out the remainder of her life. During her final years, Nancy enjoyed spending time relaxing near the beach and gazing mauka from her apartment, watching the news, and socializing with family and friends. She was a voracious reader, going through as many as three novels a week, with a particular affection for historical non-fiction. While in Hawaii, she grew to love Korean barbeque, especially chicken katsu, and enjoyed sitting outside in the afternoons sipping on a cocktail or a glass of wine.
Though she was often far away from her extended family in those final years, Nancy kept in good touch with her loved ones over the phone and relished hearing the details of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s lives. She’ll be remembered fondly for her blunt insights, dry sense of humor, and kindness when it was needed most. RIP.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend a memorial service for Ann on Sunday, August 70, 2023 at Noon, at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High St., Westwood, MA 02090.