Annette Sarah Cunningham passed away peacefully, in the sure and certain hope of resurrection. Born in Manhattan, IL and raised in Joliet, Annette’s life was marked by deep faith, abundant creativity and intellectual curiosity, entrepreneurial spirit, and deep and loving family and personal connections.
She was the youngest daughter of the late William Cunningham, whose fundraising leadership was instrumental in the construction of the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in the then-newly created Diocese of Joliet.
Annette graduated from St. Francis High School in Joliet and, later, Marymount Tarrytown, NY. Immediately following her graduation, she was with the Religious Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary, a teaching order. She earned her master’s degree in philosophy from Georgetown University, where she later taught philosophy, as well as at Marymount in Tarrytown.
Annette transitioned her talents to the world of public relations, with stints at the Irish Export Board, Dunwoody Communications, and other firms where she spearheaded efforts that touch the lives of Americans across the nation to this day. Her visionary work included conceiving and overseeing the installation of the Waterford Crystal Ball that drops every New Year’s Eve in Times Square, and making Bailey’s Irish Cream a household name in the U.S. Her passion for Irish culture accented her entire career, a theme that began in the 1980s when she wrote a regular column for the New York-based Irish Echo. Her groundbreaking career continued when she founded her own company, ASC International Ltd., notably the first federally registered woman-owned and operated company. Through ASC International, she successfully represented countries of the European Union, introducing their export products to the United States.
Beyond her professional achievements, Annette also enjoyed a moment in the national spotlight. In the 1970s, she appeared as a contestant on the game show The $10,000 Pyramid, where she partnered with film and television star Paul Lynde and won the grand prize.
Even while actively running her company, Annette pursued her passion for writing. She authored the very popular weekly column “Street Seens” for Woman Around Town and published the beloved book, Aunts: A Celebration of Those Special Women in Our Lives.
Annette was preceded in death by her parents, Sara Ann and William Cunningham; her sisters Margaret (Peggy) Fay and Mary C. Luby; her brother, William Cunningham Jr., S.J.; and her nephew, James Fay.
She is survived by her deeply grateful nieces, Meagen Fay, Alice Luby Bedell, and Sara Luby Baluha; and nephews, Patrick, Edward, and Christopher Fay, and John Luby Jr. She also leaves behind their spouses and children, all of whom celebrate her as the most special, selfless, and giving woman in their lives.
Photo courtesy of the family of Annette Cunningham
Annette Cunningham Memorial Mass
11:30am
Saturday November 15, 2025
Saint Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church
869 Lexington Ave (at 66th St.)
NYC
