Happy Birthday to my Dear Sister-in-law, I love and Miss you Deeply
Thinking of Annie B on her birthday, 2012.
Ann Green was my sister-in-law for 30 years and throughout those years she brought joy, pleasure, comfort and challenge into my life. She burrowed deeply into my heart as she: sustained a deep love and sincere appreciation for her husband Steve, my brother; strived diligently and successfully as Mom of my precious nephew Matthew; remained my Dad’s favorite, over all us kids, after she joined the caregiver team during his homebound years; and kept me on my toes mentally, personally and spiritually while she tenaciously sought THE answers to penetrating questions regarding life and faith, all the while valiantly striving against the deep tangled webs that depression can weave.
Ann was filled with joy, adventure and light, even as she suffered periods of sadness, immobility and darkness.
She lived life filled with a passionate-compassion and a gentle-gigantic love, particularly when she was ‘doing well’. Ann was always a selflessly and sweet person. She enjoyed teasing and playing and laughing. Her laugh was infectious and I miss it immensely.
Ann was profoundly studious and intelligent. Whenever she came upon something she didn’t understand, or found something that was troubling, or when she searched for answers to questions that were often unanswerable, she would read, and read, and read. And she would pray and pray and pray. Ann sought answers from both the world of knowledge and from her God.
Her penetrating questions often dug deep into my being as her questions stretched me further than I thought I could stretch, as she mentally and verbally challenged discoveries she made in her readings. Ann labored in her quest for answers.
Family members and family life were valued highly by Ann. Whenever family gathered Ann strived to be in the center of helping. Ann was a worker bee, Ann was a helper bee, and Ann was suffering bee.
At times Ann seemed to be as fragile as a butterfly in a raging storm. But those who truly knew her, knew she was strong and tenacious in her love of life and family and as she fought the weight of depression. Fragile as a drifting butterfly in a storm, indeed was true! But Ann was tempered with a unique, one-of-a-kind steel, amalgamated by the love she had for family, life, children, needy people in all situations, and her God. Ann was a steel butterfly that flew steady and true even through the storms of life. I do so miss you so much, Annie B. Green! Please, ask God to embrace you, for me.
Your sister-in-law, Cheryl Green Cottingham. (Alias, Aunt Sis)
Happy Birthday Ann
Ann Blair Haskins Green was family and child-oriented. One of my favorite pictures of her is where she is on a big wheel tricycle riding along beside her son, Matthew, who is on his tricycle. The look on both of their faces, hers is sheer happiness and his is glee at his mother being with him. Ann was very devoted to her family and cared for them deeply.
Ann showed a compassion and awareness for people. She was very generous, thoughtful and compassionate. While caring for her father during his illness, she seemed very aware of his needs without him voicing them. She would be very precise, yet so very tender and gentle, while tending to his needs.
Ann was artistic. This can be seen as you walk through her home and yard. Ann designed the kitchen that was added onto the house. She meticulously decorated each room in her home and along beside her husband, Steve, placed flowers and plants strategically around the outdoors.
Love,
Nancy, Charlie, Katie and Sarah
"Needy people indeed, I being one of those who needed Ann Green to help me in many challenging times of my life. I loved her, I love her, and miss her dearly. She was my calm in a storm. My friend with a voice of an angel now is my Angel..I love you Steve and Matt."
-Ann Ervin
-Ann Ervin