Obituary of Anna C. Polin

Anna C. Polin, 82, of Freehold Township passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Anna was born and raised in Montemarano, Italy and immigrated to the United States in 1956 first living in Brooklyn, NY then Woodhaven, Queens, Ft. Lee, NJ and Rockland County, NY. Anna spent much of her life in Richardson and Plano, TX before moving to Santa Clarita, CA at the turn of the century. She then moved to Atlanta, GA before settling in Freehold Township n 2022 with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

Anna's professional career aspirations began as a young girl working in the local Woolworth. She studied dictation in high school and was soon working in a large law practice in Manhattan, NY. Anna was also a shoe model and worked for the famed Kinney Shoe corporation throughout the 1970's. Her true professional calling however was sales. Anna started a career in the cosmetic industry which began meagerly, working behind the counter in a local Texas department store. Her determination led her from selling lipsticks at the Revlon counter to becoming one of the first American based Sales Account executives as well as the National Training Director with the exclusive cosmetic company Sisley Corporation from which she retired after 42 years.

While Anna excelled and rose to amazing heights in her professional career, work was not what defined Anna. Family and friends were all that mattered to her. It was said that her true "love language" was being able to cook for people and share her heritage and tradition with all who came to know her. So much that after retirement at 72, she began a catering company to honor her Italian grandmother. She had the ability of being blunt but fair, forceful but kind and compassionate and motivating. Spending time with and cooking for the people she loved was her passion. Anna could be found relaxing to the cooking channels, ID Discovery and her favorite, Law and Order. But, THE most important part of her was being a mom and a Nonna to her family.

Anna is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Richard "Rick" and Donna Herbst; her grandsons, Nicholas Herbst and Cameron Herbst and his husband, William.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Sunday, August 10, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM with her celebration of life service at 2:00 PM.  For those who cannot attend in person, the family invites you to participate via the funeral home’s webcast, HERE.  For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105 or HERE.  For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.