Ann Howell

Ann Howell, age 76, died peacefully at her home on June 21, 2012 after an extended illness. She was born in Detroit on October 3, 1935, the daughter of John and Madeline Vassallo. Ann grew up on Detroit's eastside and graduated from St. Catherine High School in 1955. After high school, Ann Vassallo began working at the S.S. Kresge store at Seven Mile and Mack. Bill Howell worked at a nearby shoe store and the couple met at Kresge's. On April 19, 1956 Bill and Ann eloped and were married in Angolia, Indiana. Ann also worked as a saleslady at the J. L. Hudson Co. in downtown Detroit. In 1970, after her children were grown, she began working as a meat packer at the Farmer Jack store in Harper Woods and later at the Farmer Jack store at 13 Mile Road and Gratiot in Roseville. She retired in 1998. She was described as a loving mother who doted on her children and grandchildren. She was a wonderful Italian cook and was known for her homemade, delicious spaghetti sauce. Ann enjoyed attending hockey games with her grandson, going to Las Vegas to play the slots and playing cards. Ann and Bill were avid Detroit Tiger baseball fans and were at the last game played at Tiger Stadium and the first game played at Comerica Park. A memorable event in her life was seeing Pope John Paul II in downtown Detroit, when he came to visit in September 1987. Ann is survived by her husband of 56 years, Bill; her children, Madeline Howell, Mary Ann Howell (Joe Houle), Susie Krachun (Danny), and Billy; her grandchildren, Matthew Blancke and Christine Houle; her siblings, Diane Vassallo, John Vassallo, Treva Szatkowski, Christopher Vassallo and Vernon Vassallo. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins. Ann was predeceased by her son John Patrick, a Detroit police officer who tragically lost his life in 1991, her siblings Cosimo and Charles Vassallo and Cecelia Bono and her parents, John and Madeline Vassallo. Visitation for Mrs. Howell will be held from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Avenue at Vernier Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 7:00 o'clock Tuesday evening. Her body will lie instate at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 20955 Bournemouth at Harper in Harper Woods from 11 a.m. Wednesday morning until mass begins at 11:30 a.m. Rev. Fr. Richard Bartoszek will officiate. Interment will follow at the Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township. The family has asked that memorial donations be directed to American Heart & Stroke Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle; Chicago, IL 60674 or Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan; 20300 Civic Center Drive, Ste. 250; Southfield, MI 48076.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236