Ann Patricia Mitchell

“Favourite people,

Favourite places,

Favourite memories of the past.

These are the joys of a lifetime,

these are the things that last.”

Our loved mother, grandmother, and friend Ann Mitchell passed away peacefully on April 13, 2024 at Lions Gate Hospital. Born December 11, 1937 to Marian and Jim Helliwell in Sowerby Bridge, Ann grew up the only child of her parents but surrounded by a large, loving extended family.

Ann loved her time at the local Grammar School in Yorkshire, mostly the social part of it! After teacher training college she married Alec and they moved to Oxford where she taught in Witney. Her son David was born there and they later moved to Sheffield where her daughter Sally was born.

In 1967, Ann moved to West Vancouver with her family where she soon joined the West Vancouver School District. She taught at West Bay Elementary and Ridgeview Elementary where she taught art and kindergarten. During her time at Ridgeview she taught the first Regular Education/Special Education integrated class. Following a year at UBC where she changed her major from Art to Special Education, Ann accepted the assignment of District Resource Teacher, a role which she held for 9 years. She had a natural ability to communicate with parents, children, staff and the community. She was always ready to help whether with school projects, community events or friends who needed support. Warm, caring, capable and fun were the best words to describe her.

While still teaching in West Vancouver, Ann established a thriving tutoring business where learning and happy times combined to build self-esteem. She had held a number of successful art exhibits and shows on the North Shore. Her art was her passion, painting landscapes of her youth as well as anything beautiful and colourful.

Ann enjoyed travelling, venturing far and wide visiting family and friends and thoroughly enjoying herself seeing the world. She found so much joy in meeting people and gathering new friends. She travelled regularly to England staying in touch with family and a wide circle of friends, and to Australia, where her son David and his family live.

Ann’s art and broad group of friendships connected her to the north shore community and beyond. We will all miss her bright and vivacious flair for life. She would want us to embrace life and look forward with joy and curiosity to all the experiences ahead.

She is survived by her children David (Marie) and Sally (Barry), her grandchildren Juniper (Anne), Natasha (Shane), Malcolm, Keltie (Callum), Sara and Alana, as well as her great granddaughters Isabella and Bailey.

A Celebration of Ann Mitchell’s Life

To be held on Saturday April 27, 1-3pm

At her home

Wear something bright and colourful.