Ann Pauline Hughes
Ann Pauline Hughes, of Fort Myers Beach, Florida, passed away June 22, 2011. She was born October 19, 1936 in Decatur, Illinois, daughter of Delmar (“D.P.”) and Pearl (Barnfield) Richards. Prior to Fort Myers Beach, Ann lived for more than 40 years in Flossmoor, Illinois, where she and her loving husband, Daniel, raised their family.
In her early years, Ann was a beautiful ballerina, studying and dancing in Decatur, New York City, and then Chicago, where she met Dan on a blind date while living at the Three Arts Club and he was a student at Northwestern School of Law. She loved reading books, staying abreast of politics, gardening and nature. Ann was a member of the Fort Myers Beach Pilot Club and Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation. Her husband was a former Mayor of our town.
Ann was blessed to have many caring friends. She astonished all with her selfless persistence to tend to those she loved, despite her lengthy, debilitating illness. She leaves to her loving memory, in addition to her devoted husband of 56 years, her brother, Phillip (Kip) Richards of Fallbrook, California; and sister-in-law, Melanie (Tom) Rost of Crystal Lake, Illinois; three children, Dana (Mark) Southard of Cape Coral; Mike (Jill) Hughes of Flossmoor, Illinois; and Phillip Hughes of Big Pine Key, Florida; and ten grandchildren, Jennifer, Daniel, Sara, Connor, Bryce, Brittany, Jason, Phillip, Avery and Luke.
A memorial service will be held later this year. The family asks that donations in her memory be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908, or the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20004.