Ann H. Bigelow, 82

Ann Harvey Bigelow (nee Elsie Ann Harvey) was born July 8, 1933, to Francis Adolphus Harvey, Quaker, and Elsie Brackbill Harvey, Mennonite (nee Elsie May Brackbill), in Brockton, Massachusetts. Her siblings are Doris Dickerson of Lititz, Pennsylvania; Kenneth Milhous of Cheshire, Connecticut; Raymond Milhous of Burlington, Vermont; and Bruce Harvey of Kalona, Iowa. Her father worked as a manager in many locations within the northeastern part of the United States for what is now called the Kmart Stores. While Ann was going up through high school, her father worked in nine different places (1933-1951).

Her parents chose churches by their youth programs and teaching according to their parents’ beliefs. Those chosen were of 5 denominations – Baptist (the most chosen), Methodist, Presbyterian, Nazarene and Quaker, as well as two independent churches. From July 2, 1928, to May 6, 1969, her parents lived in 20 cities within 8 states during those 40 years and 10 months. During her high school years, Ann attended four different schools.

Ann had her nursing training at West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park, Illinois, where she earned her R.N. Then, she went on to study at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, where she received her B.S. in nursing science in 1956.

For her first major nursing job, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and worked as a medical/surgical R.N. at New England Baptist Hospital from 1956-1966. During this time, Ann was attending Ruggles Street Baptist Church in Boston and became involved in the music program as the piano accompanist for youth choirs. It was also at church that she met Reuben J. Bigelow. The association became a close friendship. On their first date, they went to a choral concert. This was to be the beginning of sharing their love of music during the many years to follow. On February 13th, 1965 they were united in holy matrimony at the church. The officiating minister was Dr. James T. Ryder, Pastor Emeritus. The wedding included singing by a youth choir. Ann and Reuben established their new home at 12 Boulder Drive in Burlington, Massachusetts.

Ann’s professional life included a lot of variety and some very challenging assignments. At Winchester Hospital and the Choate Hospital in Woburn, Massachusetts, she was involved in intensive and coronary care. At Weston Manor in Weston, Massachusetts, she and a pharmacist converted an old-fashioned medication system to a computerized medication system. At Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, Massachusetts, a new nursing and retirement facility, she, as part of the management team, was responsible for setting up the medication system. At Bethany Homes in Haverhill, Massachusetts, she set up the nursing segment of a new Medicad foster-care system for senior citizens.

Besides Ann’s professional life, she enjoyed involvements in church ministries and rewarding hobbies. Her church ministries included being a member of hand bell choirs and ministries to teen-age girls – Sunday school and Pioneer Girls. She enjoyed the hobbies of watching Reuben run Boston Marathons and other long-distance races, doing square dancing with him, attending musical concerts including those which Reuben was a participant as a choral singer as well as going on bird-watching trips with him. A special blessing to their marriage continued to be their common love of music.

On August 31, 2006, Ann and Reuben officially began their residence in their new home at Landis Homes. It was at Landis Homes that Ann once again started taking piano lessons and Reuben had the opportunity to take more violin lessons. With the help of Brenda Covelens, Ann’s friend and teacher, she volunteered as a pianist at Landis Homes. And – Reuben’s violin practicing and participation in string ensembles was a delight to her. Most of all, her faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior was the “golden thread” of her life.

A Memorial Service will be held at West Bethany Chapel, Landis Homes, Lititz, Pennsylvania at later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Landis Homes Caring Fund, 1001 East Oregon Road, Lititz, PA 17543.