Ann Elizabeth (Smith) Emerson passed away at home very unexpectedly Saturday, November 30, 2024.
She was born November 18, 1948 to Katherine (Forche) Smith and Leland J. Smith in Adrian, Michigan, the eldest of four children: Ann, Rosemary, Daniel, and Jane. She was preceded in death by her father in 1969, her mother in 2018, her daughter Kathy in 2018, her brother Dan in 2022, and an infant sister Dolores.
Ann is survived by her husband of nearly 54 years, Steve, son Steve II and his wife Heidi, sons Rob, Jon, and Joe, daughter Mary Ann, grandson David, and granddaughter Savannah. Surviving as well are adult grandchildren that Heidi brought into the family: grandson Alden, his wife Caitlin and their son Lincoln who is Ann’s 1st and only great-grandchild, granddaughter Kayla, and grandson Brandon. Also surviving are Ann’s sisters Jane Smith, and Rosemary (Thomas) Genyk, along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Ann grew up in the Airport subdivision of Adrian with her parents, younger sisters Rosemary and Jane, and younger brother Dan. The family were parishioners of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Adrian. Ann and her sisters and brother attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and then Adrian Catholic Central High School, with Ann graduating in 1966.
After graduation Ann attended Mercy School of Nursing and Mary Manse College in Toledo. Following that she returned to Adrian and began working at The Book Store. It was there that she met her future husband Steve who joined the Navy in summer of 1968. They began dating when Steve came home on leave in summer 1970. Ann and Steve married December 26, 1970. After the wedding Ann accompanied Steve to Bremerhaven Germany where they lived “on the economy” in a rented apartment in the upper story of a private German residence for a couple of months. They then moved into an idyllic 2 bedroom apartment in base housing. Their first child Steve II was born in Germany. The family then moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where their second child Robert was born. After Steve was discharged from the Navy in August 1974, the family returned home to Adrian and have lived a boisterous and progeny-filled life there ever since.
Ann doted on her children and grandchildren and fiercely advocated for them all her life. She and her mother regularly planned get-togethers and events for the family. Ann was a stay-at-home mother until 1985 when she attended a local course and became a Nurse Aide. She then worked at Lenawee Medical Care Facility for a time. She found the work there rewarding. In the 2000s Ann greatly enjoyed volunteering regularly at the Lenawee Historical Society Museum. She often served funeral luncheons with her former classmates, friends, and other ladies of St. Joseph’s Catholic parish. Ann expertly played Scrabble against daughter Kathy on tablet and computer. Kathy was Ann’s closest confidant. Kathy and Ann often took her autistic son Joseph, the grandchildren, and other family members on walks to nearby parks and playgrounds in town, and on the City of Adrian’s Heritage Park woodland trails.
2018 was Ann’s most-challenging year. On February 17, Ann’s mother passed. On February 26, her husband had symptoms of renal cell carcinoma which later had a successful surgical outcome. The final and most distressing occurrence was daughter Kathy’s completely unexpected passing on June 11th.
After her daughter Kathy’s death in 2018 Ann found meaning in caring for her family and substituting games and puzzles for her beloved Scrabble. Ann is and will forever be most sorely missed by her entire family!
Visitation for Ann is on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home from
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and at 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. prior to the Memorial service at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Campus. Memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
December 10,2024, at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph Campus, Adrian. Inurnment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Adrian.
You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneral services.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the family for future designation. Envelopes are available at Anderson-Funeral Home, Adrian.