Peabody - ANNE (LONG) McDAID passed away peacefully at home on April 29th, 2021. Born in Culdaff, County Donegal, Ireland in a two-room thatched roof cottage, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Rose (Mooney) Long. At the age of 14, she left home to work and live in the home of a local doctor to care for their children for 3 years, having only completed 8 years of school at Bocan in Culdaff. Then at age 17, she travelled to Northern Ireland for work with her sister, Maryann before deciding to seek work in Scotland and then England with her cousin, Patsy Murphy. Her desire for a better life brought her to America in 1951, where she was welcomed by her Aunt Bridget (Mooney) McCartney and her Uncle George, whom she had never met, in Brooklyn, NY. At an Irish dance in Manhattan, she met Bill McDaid and they married in 1954 moving to western Massachusetts, then settling first in Salem and finally in Peabody. She had become a U.S. Citizen as well.

For many years, she was home raising 7 children. However, eventually entered the work force as a waitress at the Towne Lynne House restaurant in Peabody. She also had obtained her high school equivalency diploma. She ended her working career as a crossing guard after 20 years for the City of Peabody, retiring at the age of 91 in 2017.

Having lived in Peabody for 50 years, she was a faithful parishioner of St John the Baptist Church in Peabody. A devout Catholic, her faith carried her through many hardships in her life. An avid dancer, she spent many weekends, as well as St Patrick’s Days dancing to Irish music, often at the Peabody AOH. A natural dancer, she enjoyed many kinds of music. She was a people-person with a light within for all to see and had many wonderful friends. Her love of dancing equaled her love of playing scrabble, but were second to her love and devotion to her family. She was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend who will be truly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children: Rose McDaid & husband Peter Callas of Beverly, Bernie McDaid & wife Helena (Silva) of Lynn/Porto Seguro Brazil, Billy “Driver” McDaid of Lynn, Ray McDaid & wife Julie (Lessor) of Windsor, CT, Rob McDaid & wife Lauren (Sullivan) of Arcadia, FL, Sheila McDaid of Peabody, Myra (McDaid) Babstock & husband Michael of Peabody; 9 grandchildren: Crystal (Davidson) Eaton & partner Erin Kelley, Jennifer McDaid & husband Matt King, Matthew McDaid & partner Ari Lesnoy, Patrick McDaid & partner Stephanie Baez, Christopher McDaid, Jessie (McDaid) Conti & husband Stu, Jamie McDaid, Stephen McDaid, Heather McDaid & partner Tim Richter; 9 great grandchildren: Angelica Eaton, Lucas Pelletier, Benjamin, James, Michael, Shea and Ella McDaid, Avery Conti, Levi Kelley, 2 grand dogs, Maxie & Rocky, her sister Rose (Long) Newlands of Tasmania, Australia, Isabella Motherwell of Princeton, NJ, niece Anne Marie Grady of New Hyde Park, NY, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her ex-husband Bill McDaid, her siblings: Frances Long, Patrick Long, MaryAnn (Long) Duffy, Grace (Long) McGrenaghan, Margaret (Long) Grady, James Long, Betty Long and Robert Long and her infant great granddaughter, Julianna Eaton.

Visiting hours will be held at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home 82 Lynn St, Peabody on Friday, May 7, 2021 from 4 to 7 pm. Her funeral mass will be celebrated at St. John the Baptist Church, 17 Chestnut St., Peabody on Saturday, May 8th at 10:00 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A private burial will take place at a later date. All attendees are required to wear masks and maintain social distancing. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the North Shore Elder Services Merrimack Valley & North Shore ATTN: Development Office 280 Merrimack St Suite 400 Lawrence, MA 01843 or online: www.esmv.org/give. For directions and online guestbook please visit www.ccbfuneral.com.