Surrounded by her family, Margaret Matilda Andeen Annino, 102, born April 4th, 1923, passed away Sunday, November 16th, 2025, in her longtime home in Higganum. She is predeceased by her husband, Joseph Annino, and daughter, Carla Shanks, sister, Barbara Deubert and brother, John Andeen. Margaret is survived by her two sons, Richard (longtime partner, Pam) and Ronald Annino (Paula B.), grandchildren James Annino (Julia) and Tina Annino-Smith (Tom), Gregory (Katelyn) and Christopher Annino, Allison Stiglin (Christopher), and Peter Shanks and brother, Alan Andeen. Margaret was also fortunate to have seen her great-grandchildren, Joseph and Hailey Annino, Isobel Stiglin, and Jordan and Bailey Shanks-Cox be born and grow up.

To summarize, a life that spanned over a century into a few short paragraphs seems like an injustice. She witnessed firsthand the Great Depression. She took to the workforce during World War II for Sight Light, a company in Deep River that aided manufacturing for military defenses. She was active in the Higganum community, including the Haddam Board of Education, Haddam Board of Health and as the First Selectman's Assistant.

Margaret and Joe married in 1946, were gifted a parcel of land on the Higganum Reservoir from her parents and began building their life together. She welcomed her twins, Rick and Ron, in 1947, with Carla arriving in 1949. There she cared for her family, watched them grow and begin families of their own. Her home was a staple in the summertime and Christmas, where everyone was always met with a warm smile and an invitation to get a handful of skittles.

As she aged, she never lost her sense of humor, her positivity or her mischievous wit. She stayed humble and grounded, always there to help as long as she could. Even at a century old, she stayed active, weeding her gardens, climbing the stairs in her home, doing laundry, rummaging through her home's collections of National Geographics and various knick-knacks much to the chagrin of her family who repeatedly told her to start taking it easy. But then again, maybe that was the key to her longevity.

Calling hours will be 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, November 23rd at Biega Funeral Home in Middletown. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 24th at 11am, also at Biega Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Haddam Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 194, Higganum, CT 06441, or to the Haddam Veterans' Museum, care of Jim Annino, 43 New Lane, Cromwell, CT 06416. To share memories or express condolences online, please visit www.biegafuneralhome.com