MELVIN, Ann
1922 - 2018
MELVIN, Ann (nee Kopil).
Ann passed away peacefully on September 11, 2018, at the age of 96. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Diane and Peter Zion; her granddaughter Jennifer Zion (Adam Barkley) and their two children Evan and Aiden; and her grandson Jonathan Zion (Sabine). They were all very special to her and she loved them dearly. Ann was also very fond of and grateful for the many kindnesses shown to her by Peter’s sister and brother-in-law Lynn and Merv Wells.
Also missing her are her cousins Helen (Kopil) Wormington (in Sudbury), her goddaughter Susan Wormington (Tino Colussi), her long-time friends Cora and Carol Farbar, Doreen Jones, John Rouleau, Mary Davidson; and Ann, Dorothy, Ina, Joan, Lucille and her many other friends at the Carlingwood Retirement Community.
Ann was pre-deceased by her parents Mike and Mary Kopil, and her brother John Kopil (wife Florence, also predeceased), with whom she was very close. Most of Ann’s closest and oldest friends and Slovak relatives had also predeceased her.
Born in the small village of Gruzovce, Slovakia on February 7, 1922, Ann emigrated in 1934 to Gatineau, Quebec, and eventually started working for Transport Canada in the Federal Government, where she was for 43 years, retiring in 1985. Throughout her life she helped the older Slovaks in Gatineau and could always be counted on as a friend in need. Ann was a devout Catholic and was one of the founding members of the Friendship Club of Gatineau. She was a faithful member of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church in Gatineau, since its inception. She was also a member of the Catholic Women’s League.
Ann spent most of her life living in Gatineau, moving to the Carlingwood Retirement Community in Ottawa in 2014. She loved it there, and as she would say, “The food is so good here and I don’t have to cook; I made lots of friends; and the staff is always caring and wonderful. I love my room and this place.”
Ann was kind, thoughtful, generous, smart, funny, and unbelievably astute and interested in the world of politics. Ann played Euchre and other card games with friends, followed professional hockey (especially when her Grandson Jonathan was with the Ottawa 67’s), lunched out occasionally, loved going for coffee at Tim’s, and enjoyed shopping for bargains. Ann had a great sense of humour and was very matter-of-fact about most things. She will be missed.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, September 17, 2018, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church located at 300 rue de l’Abbé Murray, Gatineau. The family will receive condolences at 10:30 a.m. A light lunch will follow.
For those who wish to do so, donations to St. Aloysius Church or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Online condolences may be made at www.cfo.coop. For more information: 819-568-2425.