The world has lost a radiant soul with the passing of Margaret-Ann “Annie” (Echlin) Rice, who left us peacefully on July 25, 2025, presumably dancing around her house, full of life and joy. Her spirit, humor, and kindness touched countless lives, and her legacy continues through the family and friends she cherished and inspired.

Annie was born in 1977 to Harry and Maggie Echlin at St. John’s Hospital. Her arrival was a joyful surprise after three older brothers—Harry III, Ray, and Lewis IV—who quickly recognized her as the heart and soul of their family. Her childhood was filled with love, laughter, and spirited adventures. Her brothers would race her in her stroller, calling her “Annie Unser,” and by elementary school, she was a fixture at family concerts. Her childhood memories often centered around fun, family, and the simple joy of being alive.

A fiery redhead with an infectious laugh, Annie’s personality was as vibrant as her early memories of staying up late with her siblings watching “Saturday Night Live.” Her sense of humor and quick wit remained with her throughout her life, making her a natural motivator, connector, and entertainer. Whether sharing a joke, inspiring others, or simply being herself, Annie had a way of making everyone feel special.

Her athleticism was equally notable. Despite her petite frame, she ran six marathons—two in Detroit, two in Boston, as well as Berlin and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. She also participated in Reach the Beach Relays and Mount Washington Road Race, embodying her drive and dedication to challenge herself physically and mentally.

After earning her degree from the University of Vermont, Annie channeled her compassion into service. She was passionate about helping vulnerable people and animals, volunteering in her communities in New Hampshire and Michigan. She loved her summers in Grosse Pointe Farms, where she hosted legendary gatherings at the family house on Carver Street and at the Farms Pier Park. Her warmth, humor, and ability to turn friends into family defined her.

Most recently, Annie worked as a caregiver at The Inn at the Edgewood in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she drew strength from the resilience and wisdom of the elderly residents she cared for. Her kindness and genuine concern made a lasting impact on everyone she met.

Annie’s talent for storytelling and her photographic memory led her to author her memoirs, capturing her life as a proud Echlin and Rice. Her writing, whether on paper or in conversations late at night, reflected her courage, humor, and love for life. Her friends recall her as a motivator and a source of endless joy, always ready with a witty remark or a heartfelt laugh.

Her relationship with her mother, Maggie, was central to her life. Maggie’s early passing in 2006 left a profound mark, but Annie carried her mother’s spirit of humor and love, ensuring her legacy lived on through her devotion to family and community.

Annie is survived by her loving husband, Norman Rice III, their children Norman IV and Maggie, and her brothers, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, and countless cousins. A lively celebration of her life will be held at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms on August 9, 2025, at 10 a.m., followed by a reception at her beloved Farms Pier Park Boathouse during the annual Ice Cream Social—a perfect tribute to her joyful spirit.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to causes Annie championed, including the Michigan and New Hampshire Humane Society and the Golden Retriever Rescue. Annie’s spirit, full of love, humor, and zest for life, will be deeply missed by all who knew her.