Ann Elizabeth (Hansen) Parker

Ann Elizabeth Parker was born on November 7, 1927 in Ferguson, MO and went to be with Jesus on September 3, 2019 in Sherman Oaks, CA. She is preceded in death by her father, Fred Hansen; her mother, Mary Brosky Hansen; her brothers Fred and Bill; and her sister, Marie.

She leaves behind her son, Terry Parker and wife Vicky; granddaughter, Nancyann Virginia Call and her husband Randall; granddaughter, Maryann Naomi Salter and her husband, Sean; and grandson, David Lee Parker; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Her father was born in Germany and her mother was born in Poland. They both immigrated to the United States in the early 1900's. Her father served in the German Navy before WW1. After his service he worked as a pastry chef on a cruise ship that crossed the Atlantic from Europe to the US. It was John R Thompson, the American restaurateur, who saw Fred's work on board the ship and told a waiter that he wanted to see the pastry chef. The rest is history, as Mr. Thompson sponsored Fred into the US to work for him in his restaurants. Fred even opened a number of his "one arm lunchrooms". Mary's father, who was one of the highest ranked enlisted men in the Czar's army before the Bolshevik Revolution saw what was happening to Russia, so he smuggled his family out of Russia through the Catholic Church's underground into Europe and then to the US.

Ann's parents owned a restaurant in St Louis, MO and because it was so close to the airport many of the pilots would eat their meals there and often times charge it to a tab, to be paid later. Well, one day Mary had enough from this one pilot named "Slim", so she got into his face, all 4'10" of her, wearing her babushka and told him "to go out and get a damn job" so he could pay his bill! So long story short, Slim was the nickname of Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator.

After a fire burned down the restaurant, the family packed up in 1937 and set out on Route 66 for sunny Santa Monica, CA. Ann attended elementary, Jr. High, and Santa Monica High School, also known as Samohi. Her parents opened up 2 hamburger stands on the Santa Monica beach boardwalk after arriving in what her father called "heaven on earth".

Ann loved going to the beach, roller skating and dancing to the "big bands" of the forties. While at Samohi she excelled in home economics, so much so her teacher wanted her to go to college to become a home economics teacher. However, that would not happen. Ann had a best friend named Betty Parker, who happened to be Del's cousin. One day when Ann was visiting Betty, Del, who was stationed at Port Hueneme, came down to visit Betty. When he got there Betty asked him if wanted to go to the movies with Ann and herself? Of course he said "yes" and after WW2 and many love letters later they were married on December 30,1945 in Santa Monica.

They moved to Johnstown, CO and on September 3, 1946 Terry was born in Greeley, CO. He weighed in at a whopping 4 and 1/2 pounds. It was said that Terry came early because Ann and Del went to Lakeside Amusement Park on the weekend. Maybe it was all that walking that had an effect on Ann, because the next day Terry was born. After moving back and forth between California and Colorado the Parker Family finally settled in Greeley in 1951. Terry started kindergarten at Maplewood Elementary School, Ann worked at Miller's Supermarket and Del worked for Meadow Gold Dairy. Ann liked to watch Del play ball such as baseball, softball and basketball, but especially softball. Del played for the Johnstown Jud's Softball Team. The team was Colorado State Champions numerous times and as a result played in tournaments all over the country. It was a great time for them going to those tournaments.

During this time they bought their first home, a two bedroom, one bath with a full basement. During the winter time Ann would bring home large toilet paper cardboard boxes home for Terry. Since the weather was so bad, Terry built forts in the basement with the boxes and blankets. What a great time!

One day in CO Ann and Terry were driving home from school and Ann made a left hand turn onto their street. As she made the turn, Terry somehow opened the door and it flew wide open with Terry hanging on for dear life. His feet touched the ground going 30 miles per hour. This really scared both of them, but later on they laughed about it.

In 1956 Del got tired of snow, cold winters, hot and humid summers, mosquitoes and low paying jobs. So in the Spring of 1957 they packed up and returned once again to California, this time to Chula Vista. Del got a good paying job at Rohr Aircraft and Ann got a checking clerks job at Garden Farms Market on E Street. Bill More and Jay Pugh were the owners.

Ann and Del attended Pilgrim Lutheran Church on the corner of 5th and E Street in Chula VIsta. Ann helped out at the church for many years by preparing the sanctuary with beautiful flowers. She also made floral bouquets for weddings. She loved creating wonderful bouquets and arrangements - she was really good at it too. She even entered her flower arrangements into the Del Mar Fair (San Diego County Fair), even winning special ribbons. Ann made a lot of people very happy with her flowers. Her talents and creativity knew no bounds, she machine knitted, crocheted, quilted, worked in her garden tending orchids and took the best of care of Del and Terry.

Ann and Del bought a lovely home in 1967 on Second Ave after years of renting. This was after Terry went into the US Navy. When Terry left to go to "boot camp" she wrote a letter expressing to him how proud she was of him. Terry kept that letter in his wallet until it fell apart due to a year and a half on Guam and year in Vietnam, blame the heat and humidity.

Ann was such an accomplished machine knitter that Del had to add a special room to the back of the home to keep all of her knitting machines, computers, monitors, and everything else that goes with it. She was one of the founding members of the San Diego Machine Knitter's Guild, even becoming president. Ann won many ribbons at the Del Mar Fair (San Diego County Fair) for her knitting creations. However, it was the many friendships she made there that made her the most happy.

After leaving Garden Farms Market Ann went to work for Safeway Stores. Her first assignment was at the store in National City, the same store Terry worked at. When the District Manager found this out she was transferred to another store in Chula Vista. However, for reasons not known she went to work for Free Brothers Market in Coronado. She loved working there. The beach atmosphere and working for Charles and Maxine Free was most enjoyable. After the store was closed she went to work for Von's Supermarket in Chula Vista.

Ann and Del loved to take cruises - the Caribbean and Hawaii come to mind. They did like to get away from it all and do some relaxing and traveling. Many times they traveled with the immediate family, taking a cruise around Hawaii. Ann also got to take at least two cruises to the Panama Canal. She was definitely a world traveler.

After 25 years of service Ann retired in 1977 from the Retail Clerks' Union. It was a good thing because now she had grandchildren to enjoy. In December of 1977 Ann became a grandma when Nancyann VIrginia Parker was born. Then in July of 1979 her second granddaughter was born, Maryann Naomi Parker. Finally in January of 1982 her first grandson was born, David Lee Parker. Needless to say she was very proud of her grandchildren. Always making them things for their birthdays and Christmas. Ann and Del also enjoyed attending various activities such as sporting events, drill team events, and singing and dancing presentations and the list goes on.

In 2010 Del passed away after a long illness and Ann was now left alone accept for her dog Daisy, a cockapoo. They took loving care of each other.

Ann loved life, her family and her friends. Which included her church friends and machine knitter guild friends. When she placed you in her heart you were never alone and always felt loved. It was a honor to be loved by her.

Ann Elizabeth Parker will be missed by everyone who knew her.