Ann D. David Young

Devoted mother of Jeannette Le Chevallier and her husband Joseph of CA, Suzanne Hazel and her husband Scott, and Deanna Young and her husband Mark

Belanger all of AZ, and the late Richard Young. Loving grandmother of Michael and Vanessa Le Chevallier, and Barrett Belanger. Sister of Barbara Rollins,

Donald, Robert, and Betsy David, and the late Arthur David. Dear cousin of Lois Goddard, Linda Pierpont, and Ruth Anderson. Aunt to numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Ann was the second of six children in the David family of Reading Massachusetts.

Although Ann would call herself a "Tom boy" as a young girl, because she enjoyed athletics and competition so much, she really excelled at and was most passionate about the "Domestic Arts" that she and her sister Barbara learned from their beloved Mother and their maternal Grandmother who also lived part time in the family home.

At a very young age she learned and began developing the skills of sewing, dressmaking, cooking, interior design and decorating, gardening, and crafting of all

kinds as well as home organization and management and child care. She was also extremely mechanical and not afraid to get her hands dirty. She could repair lamps as well as lay patio slabs and install hardware. She always enjoyed working with both her father in his cellar workshop and, later, along side her father-in-law as they created numerous projects together.

Growing up during the depression and World War II in a family of eight, she was taught the value of a dollar and how to make money stretch and these were lessons she never forgot and that she utilized with great expertise when running her own household. Ann loved and respected her parents and adored her five brothers and sisters. Her parents taught her "family is everything" and she adopted that motto as well. The family spent many happy moments together and have remained close throughout the years.

Working on Cape Cod as a waitress after high school graduation, she met and dated three young men all named "Bob." Eventually, Bob number three, the

milkman for the inn where she worked, using all his charms, moved up into the number one position and, after several years of dating, they were engaged. After

graduating with a degree in Dietetics from Simmons College in Boston and completing her internship with the VA hospitals in New York and in Connecticut,

they were married in 1953. Bob was serving in the US Navy, stationed in Guantanamo Bay Cuba where Ann was able to eventually join him. Shortly

thereafter, she became pregnant with their first child, Richard, and she returned stateside to live with her in-laws Harold and Helen Young in Norwood while

awaiting the birth in 1954.

Ann had a close and loving relationship with her husband's parents and they truly thought of her as their daughter. When Bob was discharged from the Navy the little family made their home on Jefferson Drive in Norwood in VA housing. While Bob worked part time at the Norwood A & P and went to Boston University to finish his business degree, Ann enjoyed being a full time mother and homemaker, eventually giving birth to a daughter, Jeannette in 1957.

The young couple were finally able to purchase their first home at 47 Fifth Street in Norwood. Ann exercised all her homemaking skills; putting in gardens, laying bricks, slip covering, upholstering, making curtains, and painting happily. She loved every minute of making a home and building a family, all while being an active member of the community and their church.

In 1961, tragedy struck with the illness and death of their oldest child, Richie. Although heartbroken, Ann was extremely brave and stayed strong and faith filled.

Together, she and Bob grieved, but they never let grief overwhelm them and they continued on to have a much wanted second daughter, Suzanne, in 1964.

Together with her father-in-law, Harold, in 1964-1965, Ann designed and built the 126 Berwick Place home for the growing family. Ann was involved in every aspect and decision and reveled in the process. This house was a true labor of love and Ann never stopped improving or maintaining their home. There were so many projects over the years and she meticulously organized and planned for each one. Her decorating and interior design skills grew and blossomed and, together with Bob, a lovely, inviting and warm home was created.

After many years of trying, a third daughter, Deanna, arrived in 1971. How happy the family all were! Although all her homemaking skills were amazing, it was as a wife and mother that Ann really shone. Although, like all couples, they sometimes had differing points of view, they always maintained a level of mutual respect touched with humor. Bob and Ann loved each other deeply and were completely devoted to each other. And it was evident to everyone who knew them. They were wonderful examples to grow up with as parents.

As a mother, Ann was truly amazing. She was so loving, kind, gentle, patient and tolerant. She was non-judgmental and tried her best to let her children figure things out for themselves although always ensuring that they knew their parents would be there for them if they were needed. She was always there with a sympathetic ear but didn't allow her children to escape responsibility for their actions. She made them want to make her and their father proud. She didn't have to raise her voice to show her displeasure, her children could get the message by her expression alone! She gave so much of herself to her family and the community by serving as a Sunday School teacher, Camp Fire Girl Leader, church fair chairperson, College Club officer and fund raiser, Tennis Association officer and countless other volunteer positions.

While in her fifties, after her dietary science background became known to the principal, she was approached to teach science to the cosmetology and food

science students of the Henry O. Peabody School in Norwood, which she did for several years. Her true love, however, was teaching crewel embroidery in the

Norwood and the Dedham Adult Education programs as well as to her private students for over ten years. She was an extremely gifted and talented craftsperson, and her work was exquisite. She greatly enjoyed sharing the craft and her knowledge with her many students.

While raising their family, Ann and Bob always tried to stay active themselves and set a good example of staying healthy and fit. To that end, they both played tennis and did candlepin bowling. Eventually, tennis became Ann's favorite sport and she eventually joined and held offices in the Norwood Women's Tennis Association. She also developed a morning "floor exercise" ritual and was religious about doing them until a short time before her death. She loved to walk the neighborhood and was sad when her feet betrayed her and she had to stop. Gardening was always a passion and she spent countless hours planting and weeding her lovely flower beds.

Together, and separately, she and Bob had and cherished many lovely friendships from both their younger years as well as into the present. Ann truly valued her friends and was very good at staying in touch, loving to write notes and make phone calls to reach out. They participated in and hosted many gatherings over the years. Friends such as the Nixons, the Foleys, the Cahalys, the Esthimers, the Kramers, the Tuppers and the Sudquists were so important to them. Together, they took many trips with their friends throughout the years and she also later enjoyed traveling with her sisters Barbara and Betsy as well as with her close and loving friend Carol Nichols. She maintained ties with both her Reading High School classmates, such as her special friend Barbara Whitepine as well as her Simmons College Alumnae Club, holding numerous offices in addition to organizing reunions and activities. Boxes of fund raising pecans often filled the kitchen of Berwick Place!

When her children grew up and married, Ann developed wonderful relationships with her sons-in-law: Joseph, Scott and Mark. She found things to admire in each of them. Ann was a loving and kind grandmother, of course, as well. Michael, Vanessa and Barrett all had special places in her heart and she was sad that they did not live closer. Ann and Bob made many trips to visit their grandchildren over the years though and hosted them for many visits as well. Nana was very beloved by her grandchildren and will be greatly missed.

Ann was not a person who sought out the spotlight but she certainly lived her life in a way that deserves to be recognized for her many achievements as well for as her selfless dedication to those people and causes dear to her. She never expected perfection in others but she was demanding of herself and never stopped attempting to learn, improve or grow as an individual, a wife, a mother or a community member. In her many folders of notes, her daughters found a small lined, yellow notepaper with the words "I would like to be remembered as a person who reached out to family, friends and strangers with a warm heart and hands."

She met and exceeded her goal.

Funeral Tuesday June 20 in the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St. (Rt. 1A), NORWOOD, at 11 AM, followed by interment at Highland Cemetery, Norwood. Visiting hours Monday 4 – 7. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Ann’s memory as well as in the memory of her son, Richard Scott Young, to The Jimmy Fund 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.