Anne Christine Monckton, 74, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 7 after a brief, yet courageous battle with cancer.

Annie, as she preferred to be called, was born on September 5, 1950, in Bolton, England, to Ernest and Hilda (Smith) Seddon. She grew up in Bolton with her parents and sister, Judy, in a small flat over her father’s butcher shop. Annie attended the local school system, and later graduated from Bolton Tech College with a secretarial degree in 1969. After a brief period working as an executive secretary, she decided to follow her heart and pursue a career in nursing, graduating from the Prestwich School of Nursing in 1979, and continuing to work at the Prestwich Hospital as an RN for several years.

Annie always had a free, adventurous spirit and loved to travel. While working in England, Annie would often take time off to travel. Mostly hitchhiking and staying at youth hostels, she and her friends explored most of Europe. In October 1980, Annie decided to tour the USA in the same manner. Toward the end of this expedition, she made a final stop in Ridgefield, Conn., to visit her sister whose family was temporarily residing in the US. It was during this visit, in April 1981, she met her future husband on a blind date. They were married six months later, and just like that, Annie was now a wife and stepmother to a 3-year-old son.

Upon settling down in the US, Annie again briefly worked as an executive secretary to the Superintendent of Schools for the Town of Ridgefield. However, it wasn’t long before her passion of caring for others took over and Annie returned to her career as a nurse. Unfortunately, Connecticut at that time would not recognize registered nursing certifications from England, but that didn’t deter Annie from pursuing her true calling. After giving birth to her first child, Annie and her family moved to Newtown, in February 1983, where she began work as a CNA for an elderly care center. Four years later she became the mother of another son. While working shifts, raising three sons, and being wife to a police officer also working shifts, Annie still managed to find time to continue her education. In March 1994 she earned her LPN certification, all while volunteering long-term as a scout leader for the Boy Scouts, as well as for the Newtown School System.

In 2005, Annie and her husband retired to Fernandina Beach, Fla. While in Fernandina, Annie volunteered for three years at Nassau County Animal Control, caring and occasionally fostering rescue dogs. She also continued her passion for nursing, working for several local nursing homes, care centers, and as a private care nurse.

After enduring all three of her son’s several combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, Annie proudly earned her US citizenship in 2014. Shortly after, she became a Life Member of The Byrd Wallace VFW Post 4351 Auxiliary.

Above all, Annie’s devotion was to her family, especially her six beautiful grandchildren. Annie leaves behind her husband of 43 years, Donald Monckton of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; three sons and their wives, Richard and Cathy and Daniel and Emily of Newtown, and Thomas and Jina of Southbury; sister, Judy Seddon of Petersfield, England; and grandchildren Joey, John, Nate, CJ, Amelia, and Richie.

A Celebration of Life will be held on a date and at a location to be announced.

Donations may be made in her memory to the New Post Home Building Fund of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4351, PO Box 15432, Fernandina Beach FL 32034.

Please share your memories and condolences at oxleyheard.com.