Ann’s Obituary
A much-loved member of the Islands community, Ann left this earthly life on March 17th in her own time and on her own terms.
Born in Dayton Ohio in January 1944, Ann was the youngest child of the late Leonard and Dorothy (Drexler) Schweitzer. She is survived by her siblings Ted (Lynn) Schweitzer and Mary Schweitzer, several nieces and nephews, and a wide circle of chosen family and loving friends.
After four years of living with lung cancer, in choosing Medical Assistance in Dying, Ann was able to have the last word on what her illness would not take from her. Through to her last moments she had the unrelenting support of her circle, whose dedication enabled her to retain those things most important to her and live each and every day as she wished. She was, quite simply and quite profoundly, held in a web of love stretching all around the world…. a web she wove over many years.
Ann’s vocations were varied, and she shared freely about the things she valued in each of them. After a short time as a postulant with the Glenmary Sisters, Ann worked as a veterinary assistant while training as a nurse, later working in hospitals in Florida and Washington State before coming to Canada where she managed the coronary care unit at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria BC while earning a Master’s degree in Science. Later she obtained a PhD in Education, then began a career teaching Nursing and Health Sciences at Western University in London, Ontario. She was devoted to her students and was willing to bend institutional rules to support them. As a mentor Ann placed a high priority on effective and caring communication and published several editions of a textbook for students on this topic, drawing examples from the healthcare system.
Ann’s empathy was a hallmark of her dealings with others. She instinctively considered what it was like to walk in their shoes. Human relationships were very important to her, and she placed a high value on community, being nurtured by it and nurturing it in turn.
Ann moved to Freeport, Nova Scotia in 2010, and in the twelve years since then she undertook several initiatives with the intention of benefitting the community. For one of these, a programme called Arts ‘n Adventures, she enlisted the help of local residents to offer sessions that helped participants to learn more about the Islands area, its natural features and social history. These sessions included identifying shore bids, exploring the mud flats, making local food and sea-glass jewellery, learning about death customs of the past and local historical homes. For this and for other initiatives in 2016 Ann received the Community Volunteer Recognition Award, having been nominated by the Freeport Community Development Association.
Ann was a designer/builder and undertook renovations in every house she occupied. When she moved to Freeport in 2010 she designed and oversaw the building of her off-the-grid house. The house incorporated the hexagonal structure of a beehive. A beekeeper for several years in Ontario and in Freeport she admired the ways in which bees interacted as a community.
Ann also supervised groups of (mostly unskilled) women who built a cabin on the shore of her property, intent on sharing with them the feeling of pride in constructing something both practical and beautiful.
Her curiosity about and attentiveness to nature informed everything Ann did, and the Islands provided for her an ideal setting. Her deep pleasure in interacting with nature led her to plant gardens wherever she lived, always in raised beds because she had lived for a long time with physical disabilities. Several years ago she began working on the design of a community greenhouse in Freeport, one that would be solar-powered and built to be accessible to all. The greenhouse began operation in the summer of 2021, and Ann was honoured with a plaque acknowledging her contribution as “a warrior, dreamer, leader, trail-blazer and a beloved friend.” Appropriately, it is named “Ann’s Community Solar Greenhouse.”
Ann will be greatly missed by the community, but like the seeds planted in the greenhouse her contributions to Freeport will continue to grow in those of us she left behind.
We who accompanied Ann on her final journey of life on earth acknowledge the vital support provided by the Palliative Care team working out of Digby General Hospital, led by Dr. Lisa Gillis.
Donations to the greenhouse in Ann’s name will be gratefully received. Cheques may be mailed to the Freeport Community Development Association, PO Box 39, Freeport NS B0V 1B0, or funds can be sent by e-transfer to freeportcda@gmail.com and directed to Ann’s Community Solar Greenhouse.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ann Theresa Schweitzer January 14 1944 March 17 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Middleton, Province: Nova Scotia