Ann S. Hughes, 77

Ann S. Hughes, 77, passed away March 3, 2021, at home in Woodstock, Ill. 

She was born in Ogdensburg, N.Y., the daughter of Robert N. Simonsen and Marian Rownd Simonsen. She was a graduate of Orange High School at Pepper Pike, Ohio, and received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Wells College in Aurora, N.Y., in 1965. After graduating, she taught at Hood College in Frederick, Md., for a year. She married Earl Hughes Jr on Feb. 18, 1967, and lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., until his release from the Army November 1967, when they moved to Woodstock.

Ann fully participated in life and was never afraid of a challenge.

She was secretary-treasurer of Hughes Seed Farms and secretary-treasurer of Hughes Hybrids.

She served on the Woodstock District 200 Board of Education, McHenry County Board, also serving as board chair, and was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives 1993-1997. 

Ann served on the Centegra Health System Foundation Board, Amcore Bank Board, was a founding director of American Community Bank, and was active in the noon Woodstock Rotary Club for many years.

She was preceded in death by her parents. 

She is survived by her sister, Thordis Niela Simonsen of Salida, Colo.; her husband, Earl Hughes Jr.; and three sons, David (Karen), Donald (Kim), and James (Kerry), as well as eight grandchildren, Andrew (Elizabeth) Hughes, Megan Hughes, Samuel Hughes, Grant Hughes, Jack Hughes, Madelyn Hughes, Molly Hughes, and Jeffrey Hughes, and a nephew, Richard Freytag of Reston, Va.

Ann enjoyed monthly meetings with members of a former Homemakers Club, reading, knitting, traveling with friends, gardening, keeping up with grandchildren, and in later years walking 5 miles with a few close friends in the city park every morning.

A later remembrance will be held for family members.

For those desiring to leave a memorial, it is suggested that they donate to Gavers Community Cancer Foundation, gavers.org/, Gavers Community Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 1724, Woodstock, IL 60098.

For information, contact the Schneider, Leucht ,Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home at 815-338-1710, or leave a condolence at slmcfh.com.