September 29th, 1938 - April 6th, 2024
Our Mom, Matriarch and the North Star of our family Ann Sullivan (nee Wright) passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 6, 2024 in Newmarket, Ontario.
Survived by her loving partner of 34 years Douglas Cowan and her children Daniel, Joseph (Sally), Timothy (Janice) Thomas, Sheila & Shelly and stepsons Christopher and predeceased by Sean d: Nov 22, 2018 (Christine). She leaves her eight grandchildren, Sheila (Jon), Dylan, Alana (Ryan), James (Kodie), Megan, Joseph, Julianne (Brett) and Samuel (Vlada) and seven great-grandchildren, Carter, Lilianna, Krystyna, Jase, Haisley, Ellie, Miles and step great granddaughter Delancey.
Those who knew her came to quickly appreciate her warmth, kindness and generosity. She will be remembered for the limitless breadth of her caring, beautiful spirit. She was our beloved.
Ann was the final surviving member of her generation in our family.
She was born on September 29, 1938, in Sheffield England the day before the signing of the Munich Agreement between Germany, Britain, France and Italy handing over part of then Czechoslovakia to Germany after which British PM declared: “Peace in our time” had been achieved. As history tells us, nothing could have been further from the truth.
Thus, the backdrop to Ann’s early childhood took shape and she spent the first seven years of her life as a child of war like so many of her generation, and sadly, so many today as she recollected.
Like many post war families our mom’s parents Jack and Mary along with Ann’s older brother Brian sought refuge from the economic difficulties of post war England and set sail for Canada in 1948 on the RMS Aquitania on what was to be one of its final voyages to Halifax prior to retirement of the ship. At the time it was the longest serving Express Liner in the British fleet and one of a very few to see service in both World Wars.
Eventually making their way to London Ontario, Ann grew up in the east end and attended H B Beal Tech high school where she met her future husband Thomas Sullivan (d: April 17, 2010) as a teenager. They were married in 1958 and started their family in 1959 with all her six children being born two calendar years apart save for her twin daughters arriving in 1967-a fine way to celebrate Canada’s centenary indeed.
By the time Ann turned 29, she was raising a young family of six!
Ann returned to work part time at the Royal Bank as her children entered grade school. Despite balancing what could sometimes be hectic and challenging days, she always nurtured her family with care, love and optimism.
A few years after her marriage ended, she met her life partner Doug. They became inseparable companions and together owned and operated Best Driver Education. They built a bond that saw her through her final day with Doug by her side with her family. They loved travelling and spending time seeing the world together with an adventurous spirit and zestful curiosity.
Some of the greatest moments of Ann’s 64-years of motherhood were realized later in life. Besides sharing time with Doug, there were chats and visits with her adult children and grandchildren; she always had the best advice and support. She was blessed to be able to hold her great-grandchildren close, filling many days with joy- there was humor, hugs and laughter right to the end. She counted these days among her proudest moments. We will all miss Nana Ann’s wisdom, empathy and perspective on life and living but hold her values and memory close to our hearts every day.
The family would like to thank the ICU staff at Southlake Hospital for their support of Ann and her family in her final hours.
All are welcome to attend Ann's services. Visitation will take place at Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home (157 Main Street South, Newmarket) on Saturday, April 13th from 12-2 PM. The funeral service will commence in the chapel at 2 PM, followed by a reception.
Click here to watch the service.
A memorial service will also take place in late summer of 2024 in London, Ontario at Forest Lawn Cemetery where her ashes will be buried. Details to be announced at a later date.