Waltham - Ann M. Couture lived an ordinary and long life filled with the love of family and friends. She died peacefully on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 in Newton – Wellesley Hospital. She was 90.
Born on May 21, 1925 in East Boston, she was a daughter of the late Ret. Somerville Fire Chief Walter F. and Marie G. (Welch) Cullinane. She graduated from Somerville High School where it was recorded in her high school yearbook that her 'pet peeve was being called Annie'. She married Richard C. Couture in the former Immaculate Conception Church in North Cambridge on June 20, 1953 and was married to him for 29 years until his untimely death on April 17, 1982 at the age of 54.
Prior to her marriage and during World War II she worked on the switchboard at Myles – Standish State Park. She then worked at Western Electric in Watertown and for over 25 years at the former New England Telephone Company before retiring in 1988. Ann worked part time for 13 years as a lunch monitor at the Fitzgerald School….a position she loved because it put her amidst children each day.
Her needs were few and blessings were many. Ann loved to read and keep her mind busy with crosswords, a lottery or scratch ticket and time spent making memories with her family and the comfort of her much loved cat 'Pixie'. On July 24, 2014 her son Brian was showing her how his phone could operate as a device to video record and how technology had changed since her days working for the phone company. When asked if she wanted to say something her response was simple, 'I love you all'. Ann will be very much missed.
In addition to her husband, Richard she is predeceased by their daughter, Donna M. Roberts who died March 25, 2002; her great grandchild, Samantha Jane Delaney, her brother, John J. Cullinane and her aunt, Mildred B. Welch.
She leaves her children, Marie T. Delaney of Waltham, Karen A. Gurnett of Tewksbury, Waltham Police Lt. Richard G. Couture and his wife, Gina of Marlborough and Brian J. Couture of Waltham; her son-in-law, Craig Roberts of Colorado; her grandchildren, Sean and Justin Delaney, Amanda Patti, Matthew and Cameron Roberts, Richard D. and Ryan Couture; her siblings, Eugene Cullinane, and his wife, Shirley, of Madison , Maine and Prince Edward Island and Eleanor Sine and her husband, Dick of Vero Beach, Florida and her sister-in-law, Rosina Cullinane of Melrose; also survived by nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Ann's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Monday, January 25th from 3 to 7 p.m. and again at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Jude Church, 147 Main Street, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Watertown.
Memorials in her name may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105