Ann Howard

Passed away peacefully in her sleep in her 77th year on February 11th. Beloved wife of John B. Howard for 43 years. Predeceased by her parents Stewart and Violet Bennett of Markdale, Ontario. Loving stepmother of Michael and Jennifer Howard and Grandmother of Skye and Hunter of Casselberry, Florida.

Ann was born in Aldershot, England in 1945 and she and her mother, who was a war bride, sailed to Canada on the Queen Mary in 1946 and settled on the Bennett family farm with her father. After graduation from high school she attended Ryerson University earning a degree in media advertising, after which she worked in radio stations and a monthly newspaper. Later in her career she worked in Administration for the Centre for Continuing Education at McMaster University.

Following retirement she volunteered in the community for the Hamilton Public Library visiting library service and the Hamilton Out of the Cold program. She was also on the Trillium Committee for the City of Hamilton.

She loved music and was a pianist and an avid singer who sang with the Harlequin Singers of Hamilton for many years.

Ann loved to garden and planted extensive gardens -perennials only- on our property in the Grand Vista Gardens area of Greensville. Today, many of her friends have plants given to them by her in their gardens to remember her by.

She was an avid curler and curled for many years at both The Thistle Club in Hamilton and the Burlington Golf and Country Club. She was proudest of having two 8 enders to her credit. She also enjoyed golfing with her friends although her skills on the curling ice never did carry through to the golf course.

She had a passion for travel – above photo taken in Vienna - and together with John visited multiple countries around the word, many more than once. Trips to England were a fixture and over 20 winter vacations to Sint Maarten were a must. Art galleries, historic sites and food markets were always on the must do list on these trips. Unusual highlights include spending Christmas day in the Falkland Islands on a windswept beach with 4,000 penguins.

Ann touched the heart of everyone she met. Her beautiful smile, wicked sense of humour, and infectious laugh were loved and will be missed by all.

A service and celebration of life will be held at a later date.

If desired, donations in memory of Ann can be made to the St. Peter’s Hospital Foundation in support of the Palliative Care unit.