Ann Hughes was a woman who knew how to make others feel truly known and loved. Daughter of Gordon and Marjorie Ridings and sister to Mary, Ann grew up in Ardsley, NY and followed in the path of her family of educators, graduating from De Pauw University where she enjoyed the sisterhood of Kappa Alpha Theta and met her husband-to-be, Winston Hughes. Like her parents before her, Ann earned a Masters from Teacher’s College at Columbia University and became an elementary school teacher in Westchester County, NY and San Gabriel, CA. After she left the classroom, Ann became an active member of the PTA of the Wellesley Public Schools and then a long-time administrative assistant to the Director of the Counseling Center at Wellesley College. There, she welcomed students with remarkable care, ever attentive to their needs both spoken and silent.
Ann loved nothing more than being a mom to her daughters - Erika and Keri – her son-in-laws – Chris Schneider and Grant Godfrey - and a nana to her beloved grandchildren – Jack, Matthew, and Maribel. She pushed many a cozy coop up and down the driveway, read story after story on the couch, put on thousands of miles with pick up and drops offs, and sweated through countless swim meets, squash matches, and soccer tournaments. Ann had a knack for predicting the next best hit on the radio, sifting for the edge pieces of a puzzle, and finding Brigham’s Big Dig ice cream at the store. She never forgot a birthday and called every day to check in on those she loved.
Dedicated to her husband of 54 years, Ann treasured living in her home at 14 Princeton Road. In her 45 years there, she savored time with neighbors and friends, growing peonies in the garden and watching goldfinches at her feeder. Ann’s recipe box tells the story of life-long friendships and the many holidays she would host. Beyond Princeton Road, Ann loved returning to the dunes of the Oregon Coast where her family had spent its summer, searching for sea glass along the rocks of Maine, and putting her face in the sun on salty ferry rides to Martha’s Vineyard. Her sense of place ran deep, as it paralleled her love of family and friends.
Ann offered so many the gift of her kind and gentle presence as well as her steadfast strength and humor. Even amidst a battle with Lewy Body dementia and colon cancer, Ann always said how lucky she was to have had the life she did. During difficult times, she put one foot in front of the other, and she thanked everyone who crossed her path. Truly, we were all the better because of the time she gave us. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (www.lbda.org). We look forward to celebrating her life on October 8, 2022 at 1:00 at the Wellesley Village Church.