Ann Elizabeth Miller
She was loved by all. She was kind to all. She was friends to all.
Obituary
Ann Elizabeth Miller née Charpentier, 62, passed away September 23, 2024 peacefully surrounded by her husband Doug, her children Daryl, Julie, Cody, Scott and their partners Katherine and Iku.
She was born on February 21, 1962 to Arthur and Marie Charpentier in Vancouver, British Columbia. Ann attended Little Flower Academy school and the University of British Columbia, School of Nursing. She married Doug in 1987 and had a wonderful partnership for 42 years and together they raised four beautiful children.
She was a Registered Nurse for Vancouver Coastal Health for over 30 years in Geriatric Rehab, many of which were night shifts while raising her children. Her children can attest to her selflessness, dedication and pride towards them, whether it was a sports event, school trip or just meals, she was always there for her children. She loved cycling, hiking, snowshoeing, paddleboarding, camping, travelling or any other outdoor activities and she had many adventures with her husband, children and friends.
Ann leaves behind her husband, their four children, her mother Marie, her five siblings, her mother-in-law Valerie, her 20 brother in-laws and sister in-laws, many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. She also leaves behind her many friends including her friends from the book club, the explorers, the walking group, the running group, the cyclers, the french ladies and the Sacred Heart moms. She was loved by all. She was kind to all. She was friends to all.
Doug wishes to thank his large support group who helped him through this difficult time, especially his medical support group Sue, Karen and Judy.
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I would also like to add that my husband Sam shared Ann’s birthday along with my father Garry on February 21st. Three energetic and compassionate Pisces in one Family!! Sam will carry on and toast to them both as an honoured family member to share such an important day.
How so lucky we were to have Ann in our lives. She will always be remembered and never forgotten. May the Angels be as fun as her!!! Love Patti and Sam
We knew Ann for more than twenty years, and we spent countless hours together during that time. We shared a passion for travel and adventures, from hiking and biking to snowshoeing and paddleboarding. Our journeys took us to Peru, Italy, Portugal, and throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Millers became fixtures in our lives, more than friends—they were, and still are, part of our family.
One memory stands out vividly. In September 2022, we were driving our rented Fiat 500 through Sicily, heading to Agrigento—an ancient hilltop city renowned for its Greek temples. Our Airbnb was nestled in the heart of the old city, where the roads were so steep and narrow that our tiny car could barely navigate them. It was late at night, and we were exhausted from a full day of driving when our GPS signal disappeared. That's when our patience snapped, and we all started shouting directions: "Turn left... no, no, turn right... you can't go through that street... yes, make a U-turn here!"
Had it not been for Ann's intervention, my wife Ana, Doug, and I might still be there today, arguing about which way to turn. As usual, Ann brought peace and tranquility to our group. "Stop, breathe, think," she advised, suggesting we find a spot with cell signal and call our host. We came to our senses, found our accommodation, and ended the evening sharing drinks at a small bar across from a beautiful piazza. There we sat, surrounded by the maze of narrow streets, alleys, churches, and centuries-old buildings, their walls bathed in the soft glow of dim streetlights. Peace, Love, Namaste!
Thank you, Ann Miller, for being part of our lives for so many beautiful years!
As I wake up in the darkness of this wet autumn dawn
As I hear the drops hit softly on the skylight above
I feel their constant rhythmic tapping stir my soul
I am flooded with memories of you, my dearest friend
Even with this giant empty gap set inside my heart
I remember and I feel the comfort of your warm smile
I close my eyes, two decades worth of memories unspools
I ask what your secret was, dear Ann,
For your firm hold on people’s hearts
After falling for your unique charm?
The answer comes quick to my lips
It was your big, honest, all-encompassing kindness
For kindness was the essence etched in your bones
In that lean and strong frame of yours
You embraced enormous feelings:
Love, gratitude, and endless quantities of courage
Gratitude when I think of that February
Back in ‘04 when the youngest of our sons
Found each other at school and gifted you to us
While the boys switched houses, sleepovers back and forth
You conquered us all crisp after delicious crisp
Our friendship flourished. Cemented. Expanded. Stuck.
The four of us researched, explored, and conquered
Our horizons widening at par with our toys
Road bikes, snowshoes, backpacks, poles, spikes, and paddleboards
Our garages piled up to match weekly demands
We played, we dined, we climbed each season’s peaks
We pushed longer, faster, farther, frequently
Galiano, Birch Bay, Victoria, Maine, Hood River, Wenatchee
Even a full century from Mission to Harrison Lake
In 2013 our world skipped a beat on a Saturday summer day
When the wooden bridge caught you between its planks
And made us become aware of a growth below your throat
You paused, you absorbed, you processed, you recalibrated
Chimos, surgeries, long hair, short hair, no hair
A layer of bravery and determination grew over your skin
With a sharpened awareness, you seized life with renewed zest
As the years went by, more friends thickened our ranks
Fellow lovers of nature and sun, fitness, and adventure
Others to share on books, kids, and hopes
Travel plans, workout nights, sunset fires,
Board games, bike rides, birthday surprises
With our gang many rituals and traditions developed
Tuesday night sushi and MacThiel’s corn roast,
Valdes visits, and five ferry loop days
Birthday week, Shakespeare nights,
Tour de Delta, Christmas tree walks,
Trivia nights, costumed sports days,
Our bright New Year’s bike rides
When we joined the Thursday French Hens
We fell into their boundless care
Under our teacher’s determined stare
Your ancestral Charpentier roots
Came alive in your fluid tenses
Imitated Marinette’s no,no,no,no,no
Laughter, plenty of cadeaux, gateaux
Croissants, macarons, fromage, et beaucoup de café
Sidney Island, and Wedge Woods escapes
Topped up and completed the scene
Memories pile up, layered like you on a morning walk
The rain has now stopped my smile expands wider
However, my heart feels heavy,
As heavy as the blue backpack you carried
Defying gravity as you defied death
How to forget the adventures we shared
Epic days in Peru, where you conquered my entire family’s love
Southern Italy and Sicily where you thought you mastered the tongue
In Madeira sliding down the mountain on a wicker basket
and Portugal where we followed in Marisa’s footsteps
The fall we rented RVs to explore the four corners of BC
Remember the night we all lied down
Under the gaze of Green Lake’s million stars?
Cannot forget muddy Naramata, sunny Penticton
Sailing the Gulf Islands seas
No Democracy on board of our good captain’s ship
Honcho ponchos for all. Bananagrams queens.
Weekly hoofs, girls gone hiking
Peeing on thousands of trees
Learning everything and anything:
Pottery, crochet, gardening, a wooden charcuterie board
Museum days, botanical gardens, tour nights, beer crawls
You sure tried it all.
We have summited mountains
Swam tranquil pools
We have eaten icicles from a tree
Rode amongst tulips
We have walked in the rain
Rolled in the snow
We have admired and smelled the roses
Contemplated bright orange skies
We have howled to a full solstice moon
Shared pandemic days
We have jumped over trees
Paddled on oceans and lakes
We have water rafted a fierce river
Stretched downward dogs
We have talked to no end
Cheated in Code Names
We have enjoyed Aperol spritzes
Cheered with glasses of wine
We have danced to release
Laughed till it hurt
My pal, my buddy, my dearest of friends
My sidekick, my willing model
My yes girl, my beloved Ann
As one once said
Grief exists when there is Abundance of Love
And loving you so leaves a big empty hole
I look out my window
The sun is shining bright a chill spicing the air
I breathe a full breath
Follow your lead, heed the lessons you taught
I listen to your heart, I see your bright smile
I feel your kind hands, and the warmth of your embrace
I simply say to you
Thank you, my friend, I will love you forever
Rest in Peace dear sweet Ann
I met Ann and Doug while studying at UBC in 1981. A large group of people would frequently study on the 4th floor of the Woodward Library and over time, friendships developed between many of the regulars. This is where I first met Ann.
Sometimes after studying on the weekends we would go to watch Doug and his team play hockey. There were other girlfriends in the stands and we would all have a nice chat while the guys played. Ann always got along with everyone and was calm throughout the games.
After graduation I didn’t see Ann or Doug for a number of years until my husband and I moved to South Delta. When Ann and Doug’s son Cody and our son were about 7 years old they were on the same minor hockey team. At one of their first games, I met Ann in the stands at Ladner Arena and we were chatting, catching up on our lives while my 4 year old daughter and Ann and Doug’s youngest son Scott, played in the bleachers.
We were watching the game as we chatted when suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, Ann leaped to her feet and yelled in a Booming voice “THAT”S A PENALTY!!!”. Someone had tripped or hit Cody and Ann’s Momma Bear instincts had kicked into gear. The outburst was so quick and loud that those of us sitting around her were immediately frozen. My daughter dropped the toy that she was playing with and quickly looked at Ann to see what was going on. The sudden outburst had scared me so much that my heart was racing. Could that huge voice be coming from someone so little? Then, Ann sat back down and continued our conversation as if nothing had happened. It is a moment that I will never forget.
Ann embodied so much more than the sum of her physical parts. She was kind, energetic, and hard-working. She was a loving and caring wife and mother, a trusted friend to so many, a compassionate nurse, a constant volunteer in her Community and a natural leader by example. . She was intelligent, determined, competitive, driven, tough (mentally and physically), inspiring and sometimes fierce, all packed into her slight frame.
The Midsummer Night’s Dream quote that is the title of this tribute, “Though she be but little, she is fierce”, means that you should never underestimate someone’s abilities just because they are small. Ann was physically petite but she was packed with so many amazing traits and abilities. She was larger than life and someone to be genuinely admired.
I will dearly miss my old friend but I am grateful to have known her. If you knew Ann, consider yourself lucky. You knew someone truly great.
Arlene Jessop
night for games, treats and good times. She was a plus in the life of our family and my wife Denise will miss her longtime best friend. God speed ,Ann.
Love Denise and Rob