Anna "Ann" Louise Borish

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Anna “Ann” Louise Borish (née Duschl), of Columbus, Ohio, who passed away peacefully after a short journey with end-stage dementia on April 14, 2023 at the age of 87, just shy of her 88th birthday.

Ann lives on in the hearts of her children, Kelly Ault (Angel) of Yellow Springs, OH and Pauline Borish (Jamie Nichols) of Plano, TX; her grandchildren Crystal Chambers and Athena Nichols; 4 great-grandchildren; her brother Robert “Bobby” Duschl of Pittsburgh, PA; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was reunited with her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Raymond Borish, devoted husband of 45 years until his death in 2000. She is also reunited in death with her beloved brother Albert “Abby” Duschl, and sister Florence Washlawski, both of Pittsburgh, PA.

Ann was born in 1935 in Oakmont, PA to Joseph and Elizabeth Duschl. She was raised in the Roman Catholic Church, which was very meaningful to her in her youth. She met her future husband while working at the drive-in, by responding to his light-hearted “Hey Red” greeting. The pair attended the prom and married when Ann was 19. Several years later they moved to central Ohio to build their life here. The couple welcomed two daughters into their home, and Ann set about teaching them the hard work, self-reliance, and intelligence that would forge their eventual careers. Her children remember her as a genuine, determined, and resourceful woman with a heart of vigorous generosity who always convinced them that they “could accomplish whatever they wanted if they put their minds to it.” This gave them the strength to pursue their goals even in times of adversity, and to always endeavor to be true to themselves. Ann carried on this tradition of raising strong children when her grandchildren came along. She has always had tremendous love for all children, and has ensured that she would be a positive force in the lives of particularly all of the children in her family. She would often jokingly refer to herself as a “mean and nasty grandma.”

Ann wore many hats throughout her life. She worked as a grocery checkout girl, a cashier at a drive-in movie theatre, a typist, and a secretary. While her daughters were young, she was the consummate homemaker, an excellent baker, an enviable seamstress who sewed most of the family’s clothes within an inch of perfection, and a gardener with a green thumb. She cultivated many houseplants and bountiful vegetable and flower gardens. She ran a tight ship and kept a tidy home, along with a standard of excellence that was head and shoulders above the vast majority of her peers.

After the children were old enough, Ann resumed her career, starting with volunteering at the school and eventually becoming a secretary for a workers’ compensation attorney who was well known for being especially tough - and particularly on his secretaries! She excelled in this, and over time she gradually took on most of the duties of a paralegal for his office, despite having no formal education in any legal discipline. She was a stand-out performer in this career for many years. Around this same time, Ann took up a baking hobby, often preparing cookies with Splenda so that friends with diabetes could enjoy them. She became known for giving these delicious treats away freely. Later in life she returned more officially to her first occupation in food services, this time around at a take-out food shop at the end of the block, doing food preparation and kitchen cleanup. As always, she cheerfully jumped in, and did not shy away from hard work - even though this time it meant getting her hands dirty, perhaps more so than ever before!

In addition to her career and productive pursuits, Ann was generous to a fault, almost constantly cheerful, and perpetually curious especially about other people. She always had the time to lend an ear, or a tidbit of good-natured gossip to share. She was an excellent league bowler throughout the 1960s and early 70s, a pursuit she enjoyed with her husband, until she felt it necessary to increase her focus on her daughters’ educational needs and environment. Ann ensured that they were always well equipped in their intellectual development and schoolwork, showing great pride in their (mostly!) straight A’s throughout their educations.

We cannot express how grateful we are to Ann for everything that she has so generously given us. She will be unwaveringly remembered as a devoted wife, a tough but always loving mother grandmother and great-grandmother, and an intelligent, highly capable and loyal person to have on your team or in your corner no matter the pursuit. The world will be a bit darker without her in it, and she will be greatly and forever loved and missed.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday, April 23 at Schoedinger Margarum Northeast, 1051 E. Johnstown Road, Gahanna, Ohio 43230 (614) 939-4558

Memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, April 24 at the same location, with burial service to follow at Riverside Cemetery, 3840 Sunbury Road, Columbus Ohio, 43219

All are welcome to attend and celebrate Anna's life. Memorial Donations may be made in Anna’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Save the Children (two of her favorites), or to the charity of your choice, in particular one that focuses on children in need.

The family wishes to send a special thank you to the staff of the following: Mount Carmel Hospice, Otterbein Gahanna (Building 3), and StoryPoint Gahanna. Thank you for all of your excellent care and kindness that you gave to our precious mother and grandmother, which contributed to her peaceful transition.