Anne Slowins

Anne Slowins, 96, died December 16, 2016, joining her beloved husband James Walter (Jim) who was her sweetheart for 59 years of marriage. Anne and Jim met at a Cleveland ice cream shop. They married on October 4, 1941 in Holy Name Church. World War II interrupted their lives with Jim becoming enlisted as a Fireman First Class, U.S. Naval Service in 1944. Jim was honorably discharged in 1946. They lived on Osage Avenue in Cleveland before buying Sublot 349 in a new development on Ford Road in Lyndhurst. The house was completed in 1952 and became home for Anne, Jim, and Kathryn Anne, their one year old daughter. Daughter number 2 (Terry Susan) would follow in two years, and daughter number 3 (Deborah Jeanne) after another four years. Each daughter grew up being humorously referred to as their number designation. Many changes were made to the house in the following 56 years, and it will always be considered the Slowins Family home. Still there in the backyard is a huge pin oak, which Jim dug up across the road, since that land had not yet been developed. Also added were numerous rocks and boulders in the landscape. (This quirk has been passed down as a genetic legacy to his daughters, as we all avariciously eye rocks we can pick up wherever we go.) Anne and Jim loved to hike, and family excursions usually involved going to parks or spending time outside at picnics. This love of nature and hiking has also been passed to all three daughters.

Anne was a stay-at-home mom before being employed as a secretary in 1968 at Brush High School for 15 years. After retirement, Anne and Jim became golfing buddies. Even though Anne picked up golf as a hobby so she wouldn’t be left behind as Jim hit the courses, she became a golf enthusiast. Jim knew Anne also loved to travel, his little “gypsy”, so they kept busy with both interests. They formed an especially tight knit group of golfing friends with two couples, the Wills and the Hannas, and together travelled around Ohio and enjoyed their membership at what was then Orchard Hills Country Club. Trips were made to Hawaii, Jamaica, and an Alaskan cruise, a lifelong dream.

Jim died in 2001, and Anne had to soldier on without her sweetheart. She was a strong woman and continued to live in the Ford Road House until 2008, which is when she unfortunately began succumbing to the ravages of Alzheimer’s. Before that she continued to play golf, keep up the house, drive herself (when normally Jim was her chauffeur), and be involved in the lives of her daughters and grandchildren. Anne was able to live her last years in comfort and dignity at the Western Reserve Masonic Community.

While we mourn Anne’s passing, the best sentiment was expressed by a dear cousin, who in her sympathy card wrote “The end of all suffering isn’t something to regret. Your mom and dad always seemed to be happiest together”.

She will remain in our hearts forever and we will always cherish the beautiful memories of Anne, a wife, mother and friend.