She lived her entire life in the same house on Baltimore Ave., across from Clark Park in Philadelphia's University City.

She entered Rosemont two weeks after the end of World War II as the only student taking political science in the social studies course. She was educated for 16 years by Holy Child nuns, known then as the "female Jesuits." Her earlier years were at St. Leonard's Academy, 39th and Chestnut Sts.

In 1950, she joined The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin where she researched and wrote replies for the daily "Answers to Queries" column for 14 years.

At The Bulletin, she met her future husband Robert, an editor from southern Indiana, and they were married in 1963 when she was 37. She had one word engraved on her husband's wedding ring: Fidelity. Anita was asked a number of times why she didn't marry earlier to one of her many suiters. She said, "I was never in love before."

A pioneer in the anti-abortion movement, she organized pro-life lectures before the Roe v. Wade decision. She was arrested three times for sit-ins outside abortion clinics.

She was volunteer for a crisis-pregnancy hot-line for 20 years, and was instrumental in saving the more than 100 babies from abortion. Her calm, motherly advice over the phone convinved many young women who were planning abortions that there were many free services to help them through the pregnancy, birth and motherhood.

She was also a prolific letter writer to presidents, governors, legislators, editors and clergy in matters of faith and morals.

She was also a a founder and principal of St. John Neumann Academy in Wynnewood from 1977 to 1981. It was made up of homeschool families.

She was a lifelong member of St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, and was a daily communicant for the last 35 years.

Anita was born on Feb. 21, 1926 to Marguerite Costella and George Dewey Wright. Besides her husband, she is survived by three children, Eva Marie, Christopher, David (with his wife, the former Cynthia Pretko), and two grandsons, William Andrew and Justin Philip.

A memorial Mass for Mrs. Brothers will be held on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 7PM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 63 Street & Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19151.

In lieu of flowers, Mass cards are requested or donations can be made to the following:

Monastery of the Visitation, 5820 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131

Convent of Divine Love, 2212 Green Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130-3197

Pro-Life Union Inc., 88 Pennsylvania Avenue, Oreland, PA 19075-1131

Arrangements are by Monaghan Funeral Home. 215-679-6400