OBITUARY:
Ann Willing (1922-2011)
The world is full of stories of courage, greatness, love, betrayal, tales of world shapers and the makers of history. –Yet there are far more stories that are much simpler, stories of people who live, grow old, and die, affecting only those who love them.
One such story ended quietly, at home, with family. Ann Willing ("Mommy Ann," to her family), whose laughter enriched the lives of everyone who knew her, passed away early Monday, May 2.
She will be missed.
Ann was born on Feb. 20, 1922, a small child--according to her mother, "no bigger than a shoebox"—in New York, but she grew up in Everett, Mass. She met and married Carl Willing shortly before he went off to fight in Europe, during WW II. Ann supported the war effort by volunteering to work with the USO. It was a time she always remembered.
Shortly after Carl returned, the new family moved to Hialeah, Florida, where Ann grew to hate the heat and humidity.
--But she lived there for more than 30 years, until Carl retired, when they moved to Tennessee, then Georgia. After Carl's death, Ann moved to Maine, to live with family, then back to Florida, and finally, back to Maine, where she lived until her death.
Ann traveled extensively, visiting Mexico, the Caribbean, Ecuador, and Colombia. She also lived one year in Thailand.
She learned a great deal from her travels.
She learned not to drink the water in Mexico.
She learned that elderly ladies need to be careful when dismounting elephants.
She learned NEVER to order chili dogs in Thailand.
--And she learned that the best part of traveling is returning home.
Ann is survived by her older brother, John, her twin brother, Bill, her children, Carol, Carl, and David, her adopted family, Tom, Sue, Randy, and Lynn Simmons, her daughter-in-law, Alison, and granddaughter Meghan, who were at her side at the end, as well as numerous other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends—And most of all, her dog, Bonnie.
They will all miss her sense of humor, her infectious laughter, and her dedication to her family.
At Ann's request, there will be no service. Instead, on Mother's Day, her ashes will be scattered with the ashes of her husband from the top of Tater Hill, in Temple.
Anyone wishing to honor Ann's memory is encouraged to contribute in her name to the Franklin County Animal Shelter, at 550 Industry Road, Farmington, Maine, 04938.
Now, only one final journey remains.
Perhaps, there will be more to learn along the way.
Ann Willing (1922-2011)
The world is full of stories of courage, greatness, love, betrayal, tales of world shapers and the makers of history. –Yet there are far more stories that are much simpler, stories of people who live, grow old, and die, affecting only those who love them.
One such story ended quietly, at home, with family. Ann Willing ("Mommy Ann," to her family), whose laughter enriched the lives of everyone who knew her, passed away early Monday, May 2.
She will be missed.
Ann was born on Feb. 20, 1922, a small child--according to her mother, "no bigger than a shoebox"—in New York, but she grew up in Everett, Mass. She met and married Carl Willing shortly before he went off to fight in Europe, during WW II. Ann supported the war effort by volunteering to work with the USO. It was a time she always remembered.
Shortly after Carl returned, the new family moved to Hialeah, Florida, where Ann grew to hate the heat and humidity.
--But she lived there for more than 30 years, until Carl retired, when they moved to Tennessee, then Georgia. After Carl's death, Ann moved to Maine, to live with family, then back to Florida, and finally, back to Maine, where she lived until her death.
Ann traveled extensively, visiting Mexico, the Caribbean, Ecuador, and Colombia. She also lived one year in Thailand.
She learned a great deal from her travels.
She learned not to drink the water in Mexico.
She learned that elderly ladies need to be careful when dismounting elephants.
She learned NEVER to order chili dogs in Thailand.
--And she learned that the best part of traveling is returning home.
Ann is survived by her older brother, John, her twin brother, Bill, her children, Carol, Carl, and David, her adopted family, Tom, Sue, Randy, and Lynn Simmons, her daughter-in-law, Alison, and granddaughter Meghan, who were at her side at the end, as well as numerous other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends—And most of all, her dog, Bonnie.
They will all miss her sense of humor, her infectious laughter, and her dedication to her family.
At Ann's request, there will be no service. Instead, on Mother's Day, her ashes will be scattered with the ashes of her husband from the top of Tater Hill, in Temple.
Anyone wishing to honor Ann's memory is encouraged to contribute in her name to the Franklin County Animal Shelter, at 550 Industry Road, Farmington, Maine, 04938.
Now, only one final journey remains.
Perhaps, there will be more to learn along the way.
OBITUARY:
Ann Willing (1922-2011)
The world is full of stories of courage, greatness, love, betrayal, tales of world shapers and the makers of history. –Yet there are far more stories that are much simpler, stories of people who live, grow old, and die, affecting only those who love them.
One such story ended quietly, at home, with family. Ann Willing ("Mommy Ann," to her family), whose laughter enriched the lives of everyone who knew her, passed away early Monday, May 2.
She will be missed.
Ann was born on Feb. 20, 1922, a small child--according to her mother, "no bigger than a shoebox"—in New York, but she grew up in Everett, Mass. She met and married Carl Willing shortly before he went off to fight in Europe, during WW II. Ann supported the war effort by volunteering to work with the USO. It was a time she always remembered.
Shortly after Carl returned, the new family moved to Hialeah, Florida, where Ann grew to hate the heat and humidity.
--But she lived there for more than 30 years, until Carl retired, when they moved to Tennessee, then Georgia. After Carl's death, Ann moved to Maine, to live with family, then back to Florida, and finally, back to Maine, where she lived until her death.
Ann traveled extensively, visiting Mexico, the Caribbean, Ecuador, and Colombia. She also lived one year in Thailand.
She learned a great deal from her travels.
She learned not to drink the water in Mexico.
She learned that elderly ladies need to be careful when dismounting elephants.
She learned NEVER to order chili dogs in Thailand.
--And she learned that the best part of traveling is returning home.
Ann is survived by her older brother, John, her twin brother, Bill, her children, Carol, Carl, and David, her adopted family, Tom, Sue, Randy, and Lynn Simmons, her daughter-in-law, Alison, and granddaughter Meghan, who were at her side at the end, as well as numerous other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends—And most of all, her dog, Bonnie.
They will all miss her sense of humor, her infectious laughter, and her dedication to her family.
At Ann's request, there will be no service. Instead, on Mother's Day, her ashes will be scattered with the ashes of her husband from the top of Tater Hill, in Temple.
Anyone wishing to honor Ann's memory is encouraged to contribute in her name to the Franklin County Animal Shelter, at 550 Industry Road, Farmington, Maine, 04938.
Now, only one final journey remains.
Perhaps, there will be more to learn along the way.
Ann Willing (1922-2011)
The world is full of stories of courage, greatness, love, betrayal, tales of world shapers and the makers of history. –Yet there are far more stories that are much simpler, stories of people who live, grow old, and die, affecting only those who love them.
One such story ended quietly, at home, with family. Ann Willing ("Mommy Ann," to her family), whose laughter enriched the lives of everyone who knew her, passed away early Monday, May 2.
She will be missed.
Ann was born on Feb. 20, 1922, a small child--according to her mother, "no bigger than a shoebox"—in New York, but she grew up in Everett, Mass. She met and married Carl Willing shortly before he went off to fight in Europe, during WW II. Ann supported the war effort by volunteering to work with the USO. It was a time she always remembered.
Shortly after Carl returned, the new family moved to Hialeah, Florida, where Ann grew to hate the heat and humidity.
--But she lived there for more than 30 years, until Carl retired, when they moved to Tennessee, then Georgia. After Carl's death, Ann moved to Maine, to live with family, then back to Florida, and finally, back to Maine, where she lived until her death.
Ann traveled extensively, visiting Mexico, the Caribbean, Ecuador, and Colombia. She also lived one year in Thailand.
She learned a great deal from her travels.
She learned not to drink the water in Mexico.
She learned that elderly ladies need to be careful when dismounting elephants.
She learned NEVER to order chili dogs in Thailand.
--And she learned that the best part of traveling is returning home.
Ann is survived by her older brother, John, her twin brother, Bill, her children, Carol, Carl, and David, her adopted family, Tom, Sue, Randy, and Lynn Simmons, her daughter-in-law, Alison, and granddaughter Meghan, who were at her side at the end, as well as numerous other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and friends—And most of all, her dog, Bonnie.
They will all miss her sense of humor, her infectious laughter, and her dedication to her family.
At Ann's request, there will be no service. Instead, on Mother's Day, her ashes will be scattered with the ashes of her husband from the top of Tater Hill, in Temple.
Anyone wishing to honor Ann's memory is encouraged to contribute in her name to the Franklin County Animal Shelter, at 550 Industry Road, Farmington, Maine, 04938.
Now, only one final journey remains.
Perhaps, there will be more to learn along the way.
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