Ann Elizabeth Miller
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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November 19, 2024
Ann’s Celebration of Life Speech Part 1.
Who is Ann Elizabeth Charpentier Miller?
She was born to Art and Marie Charpentier and was one of 6 children. She grew up in Vancouver. In elementary, she attended Blessed Sacrament School and then went on to Little Flower Academy for high school.
She went to UBC and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It was at this time I met Ann at a dance in 1980. While I had met Ann in high school, I never hung out with her and did not really know her. So we went for coffee, we became best friends and she became the love of my life.
She was nervous about meeting my large family. I remember going through the family names with her so many times (I was one of 10 children). She would use her 10 fingers to sort out who is who. My uncle kept a book to track the family and all the different friends in our large family. She passed muster with the family. So Ann’s name would have been put in the book in pencil.
It was also at this time our adventure began. We did lots of camping, canoeing, biking and hiking. We canoed the 116km Bowren Lakes. She would hop on the back of my motorcycle, we would ride out to UBC and attend the same elective classes in the summer. We did this together to lessen the fall/winter UBC course load. We were already planning for the future.
Ann made more money than me. I can’t remember why but I had to borrow some money from her. I think I owed Ann $500. So I figured that if I married her I wouldn’t have to pay her back. I proposed to her at Art and Marie’s place in Sechelt in late 86 / early 87 and we got married in July 87. Her name was now put in ink. She never forgave the debt that I owed her and she reminded me about this all the time. And we always had a laugh about it.
We bought bikes for our wedding gift to each other and that cemented our love for biking. We have biked ever since. In fact Ann did a 40+ km bike ride about 3 months ago. Anyways, we were married for just a few days, riding our new bikes in Wells Gray Provincial Park with big smiles on our faces, looking forward to our honeymoon and looking forward to life. We were riding on a dirt road, there was a raging river to our right and bush to our left. Looking ahead on the right side there was a mama bear with two cubs. Since there was a river on one side that really limited the option for where the bears could go, I told Ann to stop her bike. She looked at me and said: ”Just because we are married doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do.” So she pedalled on for a second, stopped her bike, looked back at me and said: “BEAR!”. After the fright, we laughed and laughed so much. So she kind of listened to me after that. But as our kids would say, she is HOH…head of the household.
We had four beautiful children. Daryl, Julie, Cody and Scott. Our children, like everybody, were our priority. Ann worked many afternoon and night shifts. Very typically, she would take care of the kids during the day and I would take care of the kids in the evening. Life was very busy but life was good.
Ann would do anything for our kids. When the kids were younger, our kids' friends called for the “Ann Van”, as friends always knew they could count on Ann for a drive. She was the go-to person in many ways. I don’t know how she did it. She would work night shifts but somehow always be there for the kids. She was always so giving. In later years, when the kids had moved out and we would have family meals, she always made way too much food. That was because she always wanted the kids to have leftovers when they went home. Ann did everything and would do anything for our kids.
In 2013 we were out riding our bikes with some friends near Crescent Beach and she crashed her bike on a bridge. She went to the hospital to get x-rayed for possible broken ribs and it was at that time they discovered a large tumor. We called that “The bridge that saved her life” and we thanked the bridge every time we went over it. Ann had major surgery to remove the cancer, and she had many other surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatment along the way. Ann would get knocked down for a month, two or three and would be really beat up, but she was a fighter and would always get back up. Although the cancer journey was tough, we dealt with it and then we put it aside and we really had a great, great 10 years. We did tons of things, travelled and continued to have many adventures. We would talk about this all the time and although we always had the cancer hovering over her we concluded life was really very, very good.
Who is Ann Elizabeth Charpentier Miller?
She was born to Art and Marie Charpentier and was one of 6 children. She grew up in Vancouver. In elementary, she attended Blessed Sacrament School and then went on to Little Flower Academy for high school.
She went to UBC and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It was at this time I met Ann at a dance in 1980. While I had met Ann in high school, I never hung out with her and did not really know her. So we went for coffee, we became best friends and she became the love of my life.
She was nervous about meeting my large family. I remember going through the family names with her so many times (I was one of 10 children). She would use her 10 fingers to sort out who is who. My uncle kept a book to track the family and all the different friends in our large family. She passed muster with the family. So Ann’s name would have been put in the book in pencil.
It was also at this time our adventure began. We did lots of camping, canoeing, biking and hiking. We canoed the 116km Bowren Lakes. She would hop on the back of my motorcycle, we would ride out to UBC and attend the same elective classes in the summer. We did this together to lessen the fall/winter UBC course load. We were already planning for the future.
Ann made more money than me. I can’t remember why but I had to borrow some money from her. I think I owed Ann $500. So I figured that if I married her I wouldn’t have to pay her back. I proposed to her at Art and Marie’s place in Sechelt in late 86 / early 87 and we got married in July 87. Her name was now put in ink. She never forgave the debt that I owed her and she reminded me about this all the time. And we always had a laugh about it.
We bought bikes for our wedding gift to each other and that cemented our love for biking. We have biked ever since. In fact Ann did a 40+ km bike ride about 3 months ago. Anyways, we were married for just a few days, riding our new bikes in Wells Gray Provincial Park with big smiles on our faces, looking forward to our honeymoon and looking forward to life. We were riding on a dirt road, there was a raging river to our right and bush to our left. Looking ahead on the right side there was a mama bear with two cubs. Since there was a river on one side that really limited the option for where the bears could go, I told Ann to stop her bike. She looked at me and said: ”Just because we are married doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do.” So she pedalled on for a second, stopped her bike, looked back at me and said: “BEAR!”. After the fright, we laughed and laughed so much. So she kind of listened to me after that. But as our kids would say, she is HOH…head of the household.
We had four beautiful children. Daryl, Julie, Cody and Scott. Our children, like everybody, were our priority. Ann worked many afternoon and night shifts. Very typically, she would take care of the kids during the day and I would take care of the kids in the evening. Life was very busy but life was good.
Ann would do anything for our kids. When the kids were younger, our kids' friends called for the “Ann Van”, as friends always knew they could count on Ann for a drive. She was the go-to person in many ways. I don’t know how she did it. She would work night shifts but somehow always be there for the kids. She was always so giving. In later years, when the kids had moved out and we would have family meals, she always made way too much food. That was because she always wanted the kids to have leftovers when they went home. Ann did everything and would do anything for our kids.
In 2013 we were out riding our bikes with some friends near Crescent Beach and she crashed her bike on a bridge. She went to the hospital to get x-rayed for possible broken ribs and it was at that time they discovered a large tumor. We called that “The bridge that saved her life” and we thanked the bridge every time we went over it. Ann had major surgery to remove the cancer, and she had many other surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatment along the way. Ann would get knocked down for a month, two or three and would be really beat up, but she was a fighter and would always get back up. Although the cancer journey was tough, we dealt with it and then we put it aside and we really had a great, great 10 years. We did tons of things, travelled and continued to have many adventures. We would talk about this all the time and although we always had the cancer hovering over her we concluded life was really very, very good.
November 19, 2024
Ann’s Celebration of Life Speech Part 2.
I just talked about a very small snapshot of Ann’s story. But who was Ann?
Ann was kind of a magnet. People just wanted to hang out with her. When we would go to meet up with friends or family, if for some reason, Ann wasn’t beside me when we arrived at the door, they wouldn’t say hi to me (they would in the end) but they would always say “Where’s Ann?”. Over the years I talked to Ann about this, people seemingly looking forward to seeing her versus me; even my own family. She would just smile at me and again we just laughed and laughed.
My mom reminded me of a story a month or so ago about my father. When my father was ill, my mom would wake my dad up in the middle of the night to give him his medication. My mom would say jokingly to my dad: ”Wake up. It’s Nurse Ratched to give you your pills”. My dad would look at my mom and say “Where’s Ann?”.
Ann always had a big smile on her face, and she was always up to having an adventure. She was just fun to be with.
In her last month, I was at the hospital most days. She was in ICU for over a month and we both knew where this could go. We had a lot of discussions about life and we cried a lot. But this is what we concluded: our marriage was strong. And even though we had the odd struggle, like all marriages, our marriage was really very easy. Like all kids, our kids would have bumps in the road, but we were so proud of our kids and how they turned out. We both came from good families. So our marriage was solid, our kids were solid, Ann’s family was solid, my family was solid and our friends were solid. Life has been really good.
To see in her ICU was tough and she told me not to cry. I told her that if I didn’t give a shit about her, I wouldn’t cry. She knew what I meant. I told her I welcomed the pain. I said bring on the pain because it just means that I loved her. We talked many times about life and as we looked back on our lives, we both had big smiles on our faces. We considered ourselves to be so lucky and so fortunate. Many times, when I would leave her at the hospital we each had a big smile on our face.
So, what was the essence of Ann? She was many things: loving, fun to be with and many other qualities. The one that I might pick to describe her was that she was kind.
We were away with Ana and Antonio in Leavenworth and we came upon a man sitting down against a building with the man’s wife in his arms and the sun beating down on them. I looked at the guy and I thought “poor guy”. Ann looked at the guy and immediately was at his side asking if she could help. Ana was right there too. The man’s wife had a seizure; which supposedly she had many times and the man said that she would eventually be okay. Ann jumped into action; we got them out of the sun, got some chairs so they could rest, got some water and eventually got them into their car. The man was very thankful.
The day before she passed, I was with her by her side for most of the day. She was unresponsive. Late at night, surprisingly, she woke up and once again we had a short but nice conversation. It was after 10pm, I hadn’t had my 3pm coffee or snack, nor had I had dinner. She told me to go home, eat, get some sleep and I would see her in the morning. Which I did. There she was again, always thinking about others.
That is what Ann did. She did this kind of stuff all the time. She was always helping. She was so selfless. She was really just very, very kind.
So maybe when you see an act of kindness you can remember Ann and say: “That’s so Ann like”.
She was loved by all. She was kind to all. She was friends to all.
I just talked about a very small snapshot of Ann’s story. But who was Ann?
Ann was kind of a magnet. People just wanted to hang out with her. When we would go to meet up with friends or family, if for some reason, Ann wasn’t beside me when we arrived at the door, they wouldn’t say hi to me (they would in the end) but they would always say “Where’s Ann?”. Over the years I talked to Ann about this, people seemingly looking forward to seeing her versus me; even my own family. She would just smile at me and again we just laughed and laughed.
My mom reminded me of a story a month or so ago about my father. When my father was ill, my mom would wake my dad up in the middle of the night to give him his medication. My mom would say jokingly to my dad: ”Wake up. It’s Nurse Ratched to give you your pills”. My dad would look at my mom and say “Where’s Ann?”.
Ann always had a big smile on her face, and she was always up to having an adventure. She was just fun to be with.
In her last month, I was at the hospital most days. She was in ICU for over a month and we both knew where this could go. We had a lot of discussions about life and we cried a lot. But this is what we concluded: our marriage was strong. And even though we had the odd struggle, like all marriages, our marriage was really very easy. Like all kids, our kids would have bumps in the road, but we were so proud of our kids and how they turned out. We both came from good families. So our marriage was solid, our kids were solid, Ann’s family was solid, my family was solid and our friends were solid. Life has been really good.
To see in her ICU was tough and she told me not to cry. I told her that if I didn’t give a shit about her, I wouldn’t cry. She knew what I meant. I told her I welcomed the pain. I said bring on the pain because it just means that I loved her. We talked many times about life and as we looked back on our lives, we both had big smiles on our faces. We considered ourselves to be so lucky and so fortunate. Many times, when I would leave her at the hospital we each had a big smile on our face.
So, what was the essence of Ann? She was many things: loving, fun to be with and many other qualities. The one that I might pick to describe her was that she was kind.
We were away with Ana and Antonio in Leavenworth and we came upon a man sitting down against a building with the man’s wife in his arms and the sun beating down on them. I looked at the guy and I thought “poor guy”. Ann looked at the guy and immediately was at his side asking if she could help. Ana was right there too. The man’s wife had a seizure; which supposedly she had many times and the man said that she would eventually be okay. Ann jumped into action; we got them out of the sun, got some chairs so they could rest, got some water and eventually got them into their car. The man was very thankful.
The day before she passed, I was with her by her side for most of the day. She was unresponsive. Late at night, surprisingly, she woke up and once again we had a short but nice conversation. It was after 10pm, I hadn’t had my 3pm coffee or snack, nor had I had dinner. She told me to go home, eat, get some sleep and I would see her in the morning. Which I did. There she was again, always thinking about others.
That is what Ann did. She did this kind of stuff all the time. She was always helping. She was so selfless. She was really just very, very kind.
So maybe when you see an act of kindness you can remember Ann and say: “That’s so Ann like”.
She was loved by all. She was kind to all. She was friends to all.
October 28, 2024
Miller Christmas circa 2009
October 28, 2024
Ann was my sister in-law and she was the best of the best!!! With her infectious laugh and her willingness to participate she fit in perfectly in our very boisterous family of twelve. At family gatherings she never missed a beat! Laughing at our stupid jokes and chatting with everyone with keen interest (at least she appeared that way lol) that made us feel like we were the only one in the room! How did she do it with all the noise and chaos going on!! But she did. She also would be the first one in the kitchen to clean up after dinner making the rest of us look bad so us girls would scurry in after her to help and we would fill our wine glasses and laugh and chat the night away!! I will miss those times like so many others but Ann will always be there in spirit and we will continue to raise our glasses (and thumbs) to her every time we celebrate.
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
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
October 26, 2024
I don't remember the exact day my wife Ana and I met Ann, but it must have been a beautiful, sunny, and warm day—because that's how every day felt in her company. She always brought peace, joy, and optimism. Her presence would bring smiles to our faces, no matter what kind of day we had experienced.
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!
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!
October 26, 2024
I remember Ann's amazing smile: so big and all encompassing. When I think of her, I feel her arms around me in a great big hug. In our bookclub she displayed a talent for seeing all sides of an issue. Ann has had a huge impact on my life and I will try to be a little more like her in manifesting unconditional love, compassion and equanimity in my life. I'll miss you Ann.
October 26, 2024
TO ANN
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
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
October 26, 2024
Though she be but little, she is fierce. - William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream
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
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
October 25, 2024
My memory of Ann is camping with our two families and after we all put the little ruffians to bed. Ann would bring out the licorice, the snacks and then we would have the rest of the
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
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
October 22, 2024
I look back and laugh at the lengths mom went through to feed us kids. Hiding shredded carrot in cheddar cheese for tacos. Making us sit at the table for hours to eat five kernels of corn. She would do whatever it took for her kids.
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