Annette D. Burrier

On July 22, 2017, the beloved woman known as “Momma Rose” at The Marco Players Theater left this world after an amazing run.

Annette Dickinson Burrier, 96, passed away peacefully at home, with her daughter Beverly; son-in-law, Wayne; and two beloved pooches at her side.

Annette’s life was like a play you never wanted to end.

Born at home in Baltimore January 2, 1921 to Frederick and Mary Dickinson—the youngest of five children—Annette learned at an early age that a great way to endear herself to others was to be funny. At 15, she met a boy named Charles Hamilton Burrier “Buddy”, who fell hopelessly in love with her on Day One. They married five years later and had 3 children.

Through the years, Annette excelled in every role she took on—wife, mother, model, physical therapy assistant, writer, editor and artist, to name a few. She had a bucket list before anyone had ever heard of bucket lists.

Even later in life, at the Charlestown Senior Living community in Catonsville, Maryland, she never slowed down. She was the creator and editor of the campus yearbook and campus cookbook. At one point, she hosted her own TV show on the campus station and was an active member of the sports cheerleaders. She even traveled with the developer of Charlestown, successfully promoting its Senior Living concept to prospective communities on the east coast.

Her nephew frequently called her from his radio show in Boston to report on sports news for the local Baltimore Orioles and Ravens teams. She was an avid sports fan. He would proudly announce, “Mom-Mom is here to give us the sports report”.

After a time as a “snowbird” visiting her daughter, Beverly Dahlstrom, each winter, Annette made a permanent move to Naples in 2016. For the past several years, Annette served as Volunteer Coordinator at The Marco Players Theater—welcoming patrons during intermission, generating new volunteers, setting schedules, handing out playbills, and spreading the word about the theater wherever she went. The fact that she was in her 90s never occurred to her.

Annette also spent time at the Rotary Club of Naples Bay. She was not a Rotarian, but an avid supporter of her son-in-law Wayne, who was President of the Club. She read the monthly Rotarian Magazine, cover to cover. She often conversed knowledgeably about some of the projects that Rotary International was involved in around the world.

Annette is survived by her 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren—as well as countless actors, production staff, ushers, and theater patrons, who will always remember her as “Momma Rose,” the consummate stage mother, cheerleader, and supporter of The Marco Players Theater.

Even in the final act of her life, Annette had always planned to return to the theater for the upcoming season. She never gave up. Beverly called her “my warrior woman.”

It should come as no surprise that the back of Annette’s business card reads: “Life’s journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well-preserved body, but to slide in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, ‘Holy cow! What a ride!’”

A celebration of Annette’s life will be held at the theater in the fall, date and time to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Annette Burrier’s name may be made to The Marco Players Theater, a 501c3 organization, P.O. Box 2033, Marco Island, Florida 34146.

 

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