Obituary of Ann Clark

Catherine Ann Clark (nee Aldridge)

June 29, 1949 – December 16, 2023

Catherine Ann Clark, lovingly known best as Ann, Mom and MaeMae, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2023 at Sunnybrook Hospital surrounded by her loving husband and three children after a four and a half year battle with brain cancer.

Ann is survived by her husband (Bill Clark), her three children (Heather Clark, Ian Clark and Steven Clark), her five grandchildren (Avary Rawbone, Jacob Rawbone, Emerson Rawbone, Brinley Clark and Connor Clark), her son-in-law (Brian Rawbone), her daughter-in-law (Jessica Belaire), her three siblings (John Aldridge, Jim Aldridge and Jane Aldridge), her dog (Smitty) and many loyal friends and extended family members.

Ann was born in Toronto, Ontario on June 29, 1949 to Jack and Kay Aldridge, where she lived for six years until the family moved to Collingwood. There, Ann spent her childhood years having fun with her siblings, being an extremely studious “nerd” who always got fantastic grades (even winning the Simcoe County Scholarship at a very young age!), going to Brownies and Girl Guides and working as a waitress at the corner store, where she would take breaks and eat her most favourite cream pie.

After graduating from high school, Ann attended the University of Waterloo Teaching Co-op Program, where she obtained an Honours Bachelor of Mathematics degree and Type ‘A’ Teacher Certificate while accumulating sixteen months of teaching experience. She loved Calculus! It was at the University of Waterloo that Ann caught the eye of Bill Clark, and the two soon started dating, spending their non-study time playing volleyball, camping, going to the odd pub and visiting their families.  Ann and Bill were married on July 13, 1974 and had their first child, Heather, in 1977, followed by Ian in 1979 and Steven in 1984.

Ann started her career teaching math at Thornhill Secondary School and taught for four years before taking an extended leave of absence to become a “domestic engineer” (as she liked to call it) and stay at home to raise their three children. The family lived in St. Catharines until 1985 when they moved to Rothesay, New Brunswick, where they spent almost four years before returning to their hometown.

In 1989, Ann returned to teaching and taught math at high schools all over the Niagara region, taking on long-term supply roles. In 1999, she was invited to teach permanently at A.N. Myer in Niagara Falls. As a teacher, she was known for her patience with students, and her ability to explain complicated math solutions to students at all levels. She loved to teach, refusing to give up on her students no matter the struggle, and she formed life-long relationships with many of her teaching colleagues (now affectionately known as her “Myer Friends”).

Ann had an enormous heart and was well known for her love of anything social, especially coffee chats with friends and her beloved book club every Monday morning where she spent hours discussing big life topics and world events with treasured friends. She loved to travel throughout the world, particularly with her good friends and Heather’s in-laws, John and Donna Rawbone, and loved to camp all over Ontario with her kids and their families in the RV trailers each family bought so they could still see each other during the pandemic.

Ann was extremely generous, volunteering her time to annually organize a fundraising team for the “Coldest Night of the Year” walkathon, feeding the homeless at “Out of the Cold” and assisting at Community Care. She was a life-long member of the church and volunteered extensively as a Confirmation Teacher, UCW Member and annually at the church garage sale in the precious item department.

Ann was known for her immense kindness and the immeasurable amount of love she gave to so many people, from family and close friends to total strangers. She was a loyal wife to Bill, and the world’s most loving mother and grandmother, always putting her family first. We will always remember her vibrant smile, her warmth, her energy, and her love for life, family and friends. She made a difference in the lives of so many and she will be missed dearly.

A funeral service will be held at Trillium United Church in St. Catharines on January 20 at 11AM, followed by a reception at the same location in Ruby Carol Hall. We invite you to attend both the service and/or the reception, as you are most comfortable. Everyone is welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Ann Clark Fund at https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/campaigns/annclark.

All proceeds will help to fund glioblastoma/brain cancer research at both SickKids and Sunnybrook Hospital.