DR. ANNA - Dr. Wilifrid Milton and Mrs. Melba Geraldine (Prosser) Anna – A couple of years ago a lady asked me who engraves stones in the cemetery. Her interest was that of Dr. Wilifrid Anna who had taken great care of her mother for years and a name she heard often in her family. It’s a small stone on the edge of the driveway and unfortunately has no date of death for the good Dr. and it assumed that whomever engraved for Melba that Dr. Anna would pass in the 19___. Hmm……dilemma! So we do not really know if the person in charge of the estate and burial did not want to pay extra to have the stone fixed or if there just was nobody (given Dr.’s age) to take care of it. Here is some history on Dr. and Mrs. Anna.
Wilifrid Milton Anna (1910-2001) was born to Lockport residents Georg(e) Anna (1879-1968) and Mary Therese Leichtman Anna (1881-1953 ), both German Immigrants, married in New York in 1906. George was a retiree from the JELLO Company and was a Traveling Salesman during his time in Lockport. They are both buried in St. Mary’s Cementery. Back to Dr. Anna. He was educated in the Lockport School Districts and went on to graduate from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine. His internship was at Buffalo General Hospital. In 1942 he joined the WWII efforts and briefly closed his young practice in Lockport to serve in the Pacific as a Lieutenant Commander of the Navy Medical Corps in both the Hawaiian Islands and Guam. Upon returning from duty he worked at Lockport Memorial Hospital as Chief of Staff as well as private practice and surgeon. He retired in the 1980’s. Dr. Anna was a member of St. Mary’s R.C. Church, life member of the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of New York State and Niagara County Medical Society. At the time of his death he was past President of the Niagara County Medical Society and the Eighth District branch of NY State. He had a love for golf and lived on East Avenue overlooking the golf course. Dr. Anna passed away in Newfane Inter-Community Memorial Hospital. While on his tour of duties – Mrs. Anna continued to collect the past payments due to his medical patients and practices. Melba G. Prosser Anna (1910-1996) was born to Rile and Anna C. Prosser in Sizerville, Pennsylvania. In 1930 she was listed as a Student of Nursing at Buffalo General Hospital School of Nursing. On July 12, 1937 she married Wilifrid Milton Anna in Buffalo, NY. It appears they had no children. She retired as a Registered Nurse from Buffalo General Hospital. Melba was a member of the Lockport Memorial Hospital Guild and the St. Mary’s R.C. Church, as well as other community and social activities. From previous findings she worked also in the offices for Dr. Anna. You may visit the grave of Dr. and Melba Anna in Section 5 Lot A (Double Stone) Ref. AR File 10C-017. You may also visit one of Dr. Anna’s sisters (he had 2) at Isabelle Miller Section 6-Lot 127 Ref. AR File 11A-576. His other Sister Gladis Anna is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery. What isd the dilemma? …Dr. Anna’s monument (stone) has the date as 19___...he died in 2001 which means the dated area would need to be filled (according to my etching resource), resurfaced and then re-etched. Enjoy your visits to Cold Springs Cemetery. Copyright – Linda Lee
Wilifrid Milton Anna (1910-2001) was born to Lockport residents Georg(e) Anna (1879-1968) and Mary Therese Leichtman Anna (1881-1953 ), both German Immigrants, married in New York in 1906. George was a retiree from the JELLO Company and was a Traveling Salesman during his time in Lockport. They are both buried in St. Mary’s Cementery. Back to Dr. Anna. He was educated in the Lockport School Districts and went on to graduate from the University of Buffalo School of Medicine. His internship was at Buffalo General Hospital. In 1942 he joined the WWII efforts and briefly closed his young practice in Lockport to serve in the Pacific as a Lieutenant Commander of the Navy Medical Corps in both the Hawaiian Islands and Guam. Upon returning from duty he worked at Lockport Memorial Hospital as Chief of Staff as well as private practice and surgeon. He retired in the 1980’s. Dr. Anna was a member of St. Mary’s R.C. Church, life member of the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of New York State and Niagara County Medical Society. At the time of his death he was past President of the Niagara County Medical Society and the Eighth District branch of NY State. He had a love for golf and lived on East Avenue overlooking the golf course. Dr. Anna passed away in Newfane Inter-Community Memorial Hospital. While on his tour of duties – Mrs. Anna continued to collect the past payments due to his medical patients and practices. Melba G. Prosser Anna (1910-1996) was born to Rile and Anna C. Prosser in Sizerville, Pennsylvania. In 1930 she was listed as a Student of Nursing at Buffalo General Hospital School of Nursing. On July 12, 1937 she married Wilifrid Milton Anna in Buffalo, NY. It appears they had no children. She retired as a Registered Nurse from Buffalo General Hospital. Melba was a member of the Lockport Memorial Hospital Guild and the St. Mary’s R.C. Church, as well as other community and social activities. From previous findings she worked also in the offices for Dr. Anna. You may visit the grave of Dr. and Melba Anna in Section 5 Lot A (Double Stone) Ref. AR File 10C-017. You may also visit one of Dr. Anna’s sisters (he had 2) at Isabelle Miller Section 6-Lot 127 Ref. AR File 11A-576. His other Sister Gladis Anna is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery. What isd the dilemma? …Dr. Anna’s monument (stone) has the date as 19___...he died in 2001 which means the dated area would need to be filled (according to my etching resource), resurfaced and then re-etched. Enjoy your visits to Cold Springs Cemetery. Copyright – Linda Lee