Margaret Anne Braman Rivers, known as Anne, of Ashland, 72, passed away June 2nd, after a brave 4-year battle with breast cancer.

Born in Hartford, CT, to William B. and Margaret E. (Barber) Braman, Anne lived most of her early years in Dalton, MA where she graduated from Wahconah Regional High School in 1965. She attended Katharine Gibbs School in Boston. Anne married her high school sweetheart, Bob Rivers, in 1966. She and her family moved to Ashland, MA in 1978.

Employed as an executive secretary for more than 30 years, from New England to Georgia and Texas, Anne's training provided employment opportunities wherever Bob was stationed while he served in the U.S. Army. Among her many professional accomplishments, she was proud to work for the women's health medical device company, Cytyc Corporation, helping them to go public and serving as their first investor relations manager. Anne retired in 2011.

Anne loved golfing and traveling to Hilton Head, Florida, Europe, and more with Bob, her beloved husband of 52 years. She loved her family, son Billy Rivers, his wife Suzanne, and their children Jacob, Amanda, and Holly of West Boylston, MA; and daughter Susan Rivers, her husband Joseph Jolly, and their children Elisabeth, Benjamin, and Katherine of Newton, MA. Anne is survived by siblings Katherine Braman of Newton, MA, Howard and wife Rosemarie ("Zeke") Braman of Ormond Beach, FL, and Walter and wife Catherine Braman, of Fredricksburg, VA; in-laws, Catherine ("Peter") Rivers of Dalton, MA, Richard and Paula Rivers of Pittsfield, MA, and Evelyn Rivers of Intervale, NH; and a large extended family

Her greatest joys were being with and baking for her children and grandchildren, and watching them in their many activities. She embraced life to the fullest, traveling extensively and spending time with her extended family and large circle of close friends with whom she and Bob shared many meals, cherished traditions, and much laughter over the decades.

A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday June 9 ^th at 11:00am in the Chapel of the Matarese Funeral Home, 325 Main St. Ashland, MA.  Calling hours will be held Saturday from 2:00-6:00 PM in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Margaret Rivers to:

Mass General Hospital, Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114

https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate/

(designate "in memory of Margaret Rivers and Dr. Dejan Juric Research Fund")

or

The Ashland Emergency Fund, P.O. Box 112, Ashland, MA 01721

https://www.ashlandemergencyfund.org/

(designate "in memory of Margaret Rivers)