Ann E. Ward

Ann lived her life with a blend of quiet reserve and unmistakable redhead fire. She wasn’t one to seek attention, but she was certainly not someone you pushed around. Those who loved her knew she had her moments — flashes of stubbornness, humor, or fierce conviction — and those moments were part of what made her unforgettable.

On September 13, 1936, Ann was born in Ireland into the lively McCarron family, Ann grew up surrounded by siblings, noise, and the kind of everyday chaos that shapes a person’s character. She carried a natural shyness into adulthood, but once she let you in, you discovered someone funny, sharp, and far more adventurous than she ever claimed to be. She didn’t pretend to be perfect, and she never expected perfection from anyone else.

Ann moved to America at the age of 22 and was deeply proud of her Irish heritage. It shaped her humor, her grit, her loyalty, and that unmistakable spark in her personality. She carried her roots with her everywhere she went — in her stories, in her values, and in the fierce protectiveness she showed toward the people and creatures she loved. Her Catholic faith was a quiet but steady anchor throughout her life. She wasn’t one for grand displays, but her devotion showed in the way she lived: with compassion, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. Her faith guided her through joy and through heartbreak, especially in the years after losing her beloved husband James.

Ann had a lifelong love of garage sales — both hosting them and hunting through them. She had an eye for the unusual, the overlooked, and the slightly strange. She found beauty in things others might pass by, and she delighted in giving forgotten items a second life. She loved open green spaces, the outdoors, and the animals that lived on her land. Protecting them was serious business to her; if someone came around with a gun, the redhead in her came out fast.

Some of the happiest chapters of her life were spent travelling in a motorhome with her husband, James John Ward. Together they visited relatives, friends, and new places, collecting experiences rather than souvenirs. She enjoyed trying new things — though she’d often complain first, just to make sure you knew she was being pushed out of her comfort zone.

Ann was the person people turned to when life felt heavy. Not because she had all the answers, but because she understood heartache and pain. She’d sit with you, listen, and over tea or coffee — and always cookies — without making a big emotional production out of it. She simply showed up, and that meant more than anything she could have said.

Music was one of her lifelong companions. She played the organ for as long as she could, filling rooms with melodies that reflected her moods — sometimes calm, sometimes fiery, sometimes somewhere in between. She loved dogs, Nestlé’s Black Magic chocolates, and the comfort of familiar routines. And yes, she had a stubborn streak that could stop a conversation in its tracks — but it came from conviction, not ego.

Her devotion to her husband James was unwavering. She cared for him with extraordinary love and strength throughout his battle with cancer. When he died, the loss left a mark she never fully recovered from. He was her rock, and life without him never felt quite the same.

Ann Passed away on April 14, 2026, and is survived by her brothers Aidan McCarron (and his devoted wife Patricia) and Brendan McCarron (and his loving wife Carol), and by her sister Marie (Betty) Blanchard (and her amazing husband Edward) and Sister-in-law

Claire McCarron.

She is preceded in death by her cherished husband James John Ward, her parents Francis and Nora (Patton) McCarron, her sister Frances (McCarron) and her dedicated husband William Reilly, and her brother David McCarron. She leaves behind 28 nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and great-nephews, all of whom will remember her not as a flawless figure, but as a real woman — fiery, funny, stubborn, protective, and full of quirks that made her impossible to forget. Ann wasn’t perfect. She wasn’t trying to be. She was simply herself — and that was more than enough.

A Christian memorial will be held on Wednesday April 29, 2026 at 11am at the Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church, 6300 N Dublin Granville Rd., New Albany, Ohio 43054.