Anna Katherine Spohn Riggins, 95, of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, passed away peacefully on October 4, 2025. Born on July 18, 1930, in Camden, New Jersey, she was the daughter of the late William and Edna (Knode) Spohn.
Anna married the love of her life, Robert Edward Riggins, and together they shared a remarkable love story that spanned decades. Their marriage was one built on laughter, faith, and unwavering devotion — a partnership that set the standard for what true love looks like. In 1975, Robert and Anna built their forever home in the Shores of Calvert, where they spent the rest of their lives together. That house became a cherished gathering place filled with laughter, the smell of home-cooked meals, and the constant hum of family — children playing, grandchildren running through the yard, and great-grandchildren discovering the same joys their parents once did. The memories created within those walls will live on for generations.
Before dedicating her life to raising her family, Anna worked as a talented florist. She later became an avid bowler, proudly participating in leagues for an incredible 53 years. Her competitive spirit and infectious laugh made her a favorite among her bowling friends.
Anna was the heart of her family — a woman known for her warmth, her quirky humor, and her one-of-a-kind sayings that kept everyone smiling. She had a way of making each person feel special, and her laugh could light up an entire room. She loved long chats with family and friends, and the simple pleasures of life.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Robert Riggins, daughters Virginia Spitler and Arlene Shanaberger, grandsons Scott and Daniel Dabbondanza, brothers George, William, Martin, and Raymond Spohn, sisters Mary Lemmerman, Irene Sterner, and Virginia Conroy, and son-in-law Dolan Spitler.
She is survived by her children Roberta Livermore and her husband Anthony of Gettysburg, PA, Deborah Riggins of Acton, MA, and Richard Riggins of Chesapeake Beach; twelve grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Anna’s legacy is one of love, laughter, and resilience. She lived a long and full life surrounded by family, and though her earthly chapter has come to a close, the memories she created — in her home, on the bowling lanes, and in the hearts of all who loved her — will remain forever.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Anna’s name can be made to the Forestville Volunteer Fire Department, honoring a family connection and community that meant so much to her.
Though she will be dearly missed, we find comfort in knowing she has been reunited with her beloved Robert — together again, laughing, dancing, and watching over us all.
Paul and Kim Gryskewicz
October 13 – Obituary: Anna S. Riggins
Richard,
We were very sorry to learn of your mom’s passing. Unfortunately, we never had the pleasure of meeting her, but she sounds like a lovely, lovely lady!
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Peggy Brezinski Long
October 13 – Obituary: Anna S. Riggins
(Hit the wrong key before last message was finished.) Our deepest sympathy to all of you at the loss of such a great lady! We always felt her warmth and genuine caring for us. All those lucky enough to be in her orbit will remember her fondly. We may never have met you, yet, we know about you. She was so good at sharing her joy. My mom and dad always perked up at the mention of Anna and Rob. Theirs was a lasting friendship which lasted and was treasured.
Peggy Brezinski Long
October 13 – Obituary: Anna S. Riggins
My mom, Mary and dear Anna were friends . Meeting as they settled in the area, newly married, away from home they quickly became good buddies. Sharing all the same goals they traded recipes, played cards, visited each other with husbands in tow and quickly shared pregnancy joy with each other as well. Families grew, husbands prospered, thus, the Riggins moved and phone calls were more frequent than the visits.
!
Lori D.
October 9 – Obituary: Anna S. Riggins
💛 For My Granny,
Anna Katherine Spohn Riggins
1929 – 2025
On October 4, the world lost one of its truest, purest hearts — my Granny, Anna Katherine Spohn Riggins. She was the last of eight siblings, and somehow she carried the light of all of them. She lived 95 long years, but somehow it still feels like she was taken too soon.
Granny was laughter, plain and simple. Maybe it was just when she was around me, but she was always smiling, always ready with a laugh or a family story that only she could tell the right way. She had that sparkle in her eye — a kind of twinkle. Her sayings were legendary in our family — “breffis” for breakfast, “the covah” for COVID, and her trademark phrase: “You know, I don’t know.” There are many, many more but those were the most frequently used.
She loved her bananas (Anna Banana!) and navel oranges — it was kind of her thing. The simple things in life made her happy.
If you ever visited her, you know she had a way of making you feel loved, needed, and guilty all at the same time. When it came time to leave, she’d tug at your heart with those sad eyes and say something to make you want to stay just a little longer. And if there were a bunch of us visiting, we’d all quietly hope not to be the first to announce we were going, because she could make you feel like the most important person in her world — and none of us wanted to walk away from that feeling.
After my Grumps passed away, I could see the loneliness settle into her. She missed him so deeply — you could hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes. And even though we tried to keep her spirits up, there was a sadness that never really left.
I have to be honest — her final years were hard to watch. Some of the decisions that were made about her care were heartbreaking. She deserved so much more than to spend her last years sitting in a place she hated, staring at a wall, crying for home. Every time I saw her like that, it tore something out of me.
So, I made a painful choice in her last month of life. I stepped back — not because I stopped loving her, but because I loved her too much to keep watching what was happening while having the power to stop or question it stripped from me. I decided to remember her as she was: full of laughter, life, and love — not what she became because of other people’s failures.
Granny, I’ll remember you for the way you made me giggle and laugh until I cried. For the warmth in your hugs. For the way you’d call just to chat about nothing, and somehow that nothing meant everything. For the smell of your kitchen, and the way your eyes lit up when you saw me.
I know that right now, you’re with Grumps again — maybe you’re eating a banana with your Cheerios and Grumps is cooking up some bacon, both laughing together like you used to. The loneliness is gone. The tears are gone. And that sparkle in your eye? I bet it’s brighter than ever.
Rest easy, my sweet Granny. You gave so much love in this world, and you deserved so much more in return.
I’ll carry you with me always — in my heart, in my memories, and in the way I try to love others the way you loved me. 🍌🍊💛
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