Obituary of Ann Johnson

Ann C. Johnson, a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center on Saturday morning, October 23, 2010. The wife of Robert J. Johnson, she was 69 years old. Ann was born, raised and educated in Drimnagh Ireland. She came to the United States at the age of 23 as an Au Pair. She attended Katherine Gibbs College in Boston and received her Associates Degree. She went on to work in various administrative positions throughout her career. She met her husband Bob in 1967 and they had recently celebrated their 41 wedding anniversary. Ann and her Bob settled in Lexington where they lived for 30 years before moving to Stoneham. Ann had many interests. She was an avid reader reading anything from a harlequin romance to one of the classics. She was a huge Star Trek Fan and never missed one of their TV shows or movies. She had a passion for the Star Wars trilogy that was instilled in all her children. Ann and her husband enjoyed traveling together. They had made a number of trips back to her homeland of Ireland to visit family. They had also visited other countries and locations such as England and Germany. Her family was the most important part of her life and she was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Her generosity and compassion for others defined who she was and she will be deeply missed. Ann was the beloved wife of 41 years of Robert. She was the loving mother of Robert C. Johnson & his wife Pilar Gabriel of Nashua, NH, Stephanie Johnson of Somerville and David Johnson & his wife Lori-Ann of Nashua, NH. Sister of the late Marie O’Niell. Devoted grandmother of Kayla-Ann, Myles, Alyssa-Ann, Severen, & Mercedes Johnson. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Wednesday, Oct 27 at 8 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Camillus, 185 Concord Turnpike, Arlington at 9 a.m. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 p.m. Interment will be private. In lieu flowers memorials in Ann’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org/donatenow Remembrance for my Mom Ann Johnson by Stephanie Johnson I am here today to honor my mother on behalf of my family, my father Bob Johnson and my brothers Robert and David. It will be nearly impossible for me to find the words to express how deeply we loved her, how strongly she influenced our lives. To my mother, family was the most important thing and anyone who knew her would never doubt it for a second. My mother was an important presence in the lives of many people. She was a devoted wife to her husband Bob, a loving mother to us, a doting grandmother (or nanny as her grandchildren called her). She had five grandchildren, Kayla-ann, Myles, Alyssa-ann, Severen and Mercedes. She was a caring mother in law to her son’s wives Lori-ann and Pilar. She shared a strong bond with her older sister Marie, who passed away several years ago. She always loved her niece Cathy and spoke of her often even after we lost touch. She also held a very special place in her heart for her sister’s children through marriage, the O’Neils. She continued to maintain connections to the people she loved in her home country of Ireland including her dear cousin Joan, to whom she spoke regularly, and her cousin Angela, who came to visit with her daughter Karen just weeks before Mom passed away. She had many friends who loved her. When it came to nurturing others, my mother was truly gifted. She packed our childhood with love. She sang us songs like “It’s a long way to Tipperary” and the “Teddy Bear’s Picnic.” She made up bed-time stories about Robert, Stephanie and David visiting Winnie the Pooh in the hundred acre woods. She painted our eyebrows to help us sleep and stroked our hair when we were tired or sad. She made up games to play with us. She took us out for picnics and walks, to the beach and to the movies. We saw all of the Star Wars movies (even the prequels) together as a family. She hugged us often and always told us she loved us, even when she got mad, which she did sometimes. My mother did not hold grudges and told us often “Never go to bed angry.” She could be strict sometimes but I think she taught us to hold ourselves to a high standard, being a good person and someone who is caring and respectful to others was an absolute priority to her and she raised us to be the same. When it comes to talking about the love between my parents, that also is hard to capture in words. I don’t think I have ever seen a couple as devoted to each other as my parents, who were married forty-one years. I never spent a day with them ever in my life where I did not see them laugh together. They were truly best friends and soul mates. They went everywhere together. They loved going to dances. They took many trips together all over the country and to my mother’s home in Ireland. When she was sick, my father took care of her every day and my mother said to us many times how grateful she was to him, to which my father would always respond: “You would do the same for me.” I have no doubt that she would. My mother spoke often and with great fondness of her childhood in Ireland. There was some sadness in that she lost her mother at a very early age. She was raised by her beloved granny, who she called mommy. She spoke with the highest esteem for her grandmother and loved to pass on the wisdom of Annie Doyle to us. She grew up with many aunts, uncles and cousins that she loved. She raised us with the values she was raised with in Ireland. Family comes first and family members are always welcome. Respect others no matter what. Material possessions are not important. Don’t judge other people. She also blessed us all with the gift of gab and that Irish sarcasm. (Though my father certainly gets some credit for that.) My parents loved to laugh together and taught us that having a good sense of humor is about the best blessing you can have. We loved her dearly. She gave us gifts that keep on giving even after she is gone. I feel very sad today and I feel that the world will be a lonelier place for me without her in it. However, my mother taught me to be strong and persevere and she taught me that life is a blessing that should always be appreciated. She raised me to always have hope. I felt her love with me until the very end and I feel her strength with me still. I know that all of us who loved her will continue to live our lives with love and caring and joy because she would expect no less from us.