Ann Louise Cushman

Ann Louise Cushman, 97 years, passed away peacefully at her home in North Fort Myers, Florida on February 23, 2025, with her family by her side. She was a shining light in our days. She was very organized and precise in all she accomplished; a very kind and respectful person to everyone; helped and cared for her friends and neighbors. She was very thankful for all her family and loved them deeply.

Ann Louise was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Bill Cushman, who passed away in 2006. Her sister-in-law, Dottie Cushman passed away last year, October 7, 2024.

Ann Louise was the beloved mother to Karen Lynn Prior of Holliston, MA, Gary Demarest Cushman of Mattapoisett, MA and Joanne "Jody" Louise Cushman of Pine Island, Florida.

She was also the grandmother of Karen and Peter’s daughter, Jennifer L. DerAnanian and great grandmother to Ashley L. DerAnanian and Stephanie A. DerAnanian of Holliston, MA.

Ann Louise leaves her cousins Diane Ward, whom she shared a very special friendship with, (Diane predeceased by her husband, Frank Ward) of New Hampshire and their beautiful family. Leonard "Mike" Ferdon and his wife Cathy, and their beautiful family, Lucinda and Jamie, the beautiful family of Lisa Hartt-Spillane and her son, Julian Spillane, Peter Eisenhardt and their beautiful family, Kari Eisenhardt, Kareem, Jessica, Stephanie and their beautiful families and children & her partner Bob LaFortune (predeceased mom and dad, Barbara and Jan Eisenhardt, brother Christopher and Lisa’s talented husband, Michael), and many more beloved cousins in Canada.

Ann and Karen have been fortunate to be able to visit with the Ward family every September. Ann has not seen her Canadian cousins recently, but was thrilled to get together with Kari Eisenhardt and her partner, Bob a few times at her home. During their last visit Lisa, a singer/song writer could join them, and performed for her Auntie Ann. What a treat! Even though the years have passed, she still talked of all her Canadian cousins with fondness. She wished she was able to visit everyone, one last time and we wish we could name each and everyone.

Ann Louise was born on March 18, 1927, in Montreal, Canada to the parents of Demarest H. Mapes and Eileen N. Mapes. She described her childhood as magical, living in her grandparents' large stone home they called “The Gables” in Foster. They also spent summers at their lake house in Knowlton. She talked about the overflowing love from her parents and wonderful times with her cousins, Barbara, Diane and Michael. (She said her cousins were more like sisters with a younger brother running around with glee). After high school, Ann attended McGill University, before going to Boston, MA with her cousin, Barbara, to attend Vesper George Art School.

While at Vesper George, Ann met the true love of her life, Bill Cushman, and they married in 1947, living on Beacon Street in downtown Boston. Ann described her life with Bill as one filled with love, happiness and adventure. The family spent many happy days at Bill’s parent’s home overlooking Copley Square. Dottie was also there when she wasn’t attending college or teaching in Cairo, Egypt. Later in life, Aunt Dottie treated the whole family to travel the exotic country of Egypt.

Ann and Bill gave their children a life filled with lots of outdoor activities, swimming, sailing, boating and skiing (both water and snow skiing). Ann was a stay-at-home Mom raising her three children and was involved with all their activities. Ann was also busy with her own activities including the Woman’s Club, performing in plays and as a member and volunteer at the Congregational Church. She did work part-time for Haley & Steele in Boston creating perfect calligraphy on college diplomas and drew precise maps for all the states of the U.S.A. for the automobile clubs.

Ann and Bill moved their family to Natick, MA and bought a cottage in 1954 on Scargo Lake in Dennis, MA. overlooking the lake and the ocean. While in Natick, they developed wonderful, life-long friendships with a large group of their neighborhood friends. They ended up being the best friends they could ever ask for. They all enjoyed great parties, ski trips, and summer fun on Diamond Island, Laconia, Alton Bay and Wolfeboro on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire and all the kids had fun too!!

Aunt Margaret and Uncle Frost also lived at Lake Winnipesaukee. Bill surprised Ann & the kids with a beautiful Richardson cabin cruiser, which appropriately they called “Frosty Friday” so now they could enjoy weekends and vacations on the lake. Later when Jody was born, Mom did not want to do diapers on “Frosty Friday”, so back to the Cape the family went. They joined the Dennis Yacht Club at Sesuit Harbor, much to the delight of their children. There they filled their summer days with tennis, swimming and sailing. When Jody was in grade school, they sold their Natick home and moved to Dennis full time. It was an exciting project to winterize and add a beautiful new addition to the cottage. After Jody was grown, Ann went to work for a boutique clothing store called Emily Lawrence and enjoyed working for Emily Levine and her husband, designer Larry Levine with other friends she knew.

Every chance they got they loved sailing around Cape Cod Bay, under the warmth of the sun, Ann wearing her hat and “Ban de Soleil”!! They even sailed along the Coast up to Maine a few times with their friends from the Yacht Club. However, the most interesting story is about Ann’s cousin, Nancy, a writer in New York City. Ann and Bill went to New York to visit and introduced Nancy at dinner one night to one of their good friends. Fred was an avid sailor and boatman. Nancy and Fred started dating and eventually married on the Cape and built their new exquisite home with beautiful gardens. The four of them enjoyed trips on Fred’s Bertram over to Nantucket and even adventures along the southeast coast of Florida.

Ann and Bill retired to Lake Fairways in North Fort Myers, where some of their Massachusetts friends wintered. It did not take long before Jody moved to Florida in 1994 to be close to her Mom and Dad! They enjoyed meeting many friendly folks, loved the pool, cul-de-sac parties and “board meetings” on the lanai at 5:00pm! Ann decided retirement was not for her at this point and went to work part-time in the catalog department at JC Penney’s in Fort Myers. Bill started teaching art classes at Lake Fairways and joined the Art Alliance in Fort Myers, displaying his artwork there and in Matlacha on Pine Island.

Ann, Bill and Dottie would get together from 1989 – 2005 to rent a cottage on Cape Cod for the summer since Dottie had now retired to Lakeland, FL from Egypt. At the cottage the whole family would get together. Gary and Jody would also enjoy staying at the cottage, while Karen and Peter’s family would stay in their motorhome at nearby Camper’s Haven in Dennisport.

Ann continued to enjoy Lake Fairways after Bill’s passing in 2006, from October – May, spending time with her fun neighbor, Joanie, the Born’s and other good friends. Mom would drive the girls to get their hair and nails done and to appointments of all kinds. These times gave Mom much pleasure. In June, Ann and Gary would travel back to Mattapoisett and then join Dottie in a cottage in Dennisport for the month of July with lots or friends and family around. Ann enjoyed staying with Karen, Jen, Ashley and Stephanie during the months of August and September in Holliston before traveling back to Fort Myers in October. Ann could not wait to get back to Florida to be “warm” again as September was getting chilly in Massachusetts. The family feels very blessed to have enjoyed their sweet, caring and elegant mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025 at 1:00 pm (amazingly would have been her 98th birthday) at the Memorial Gardens in Fort Myers.

A celebration of Ann’s beautiful life will be held in the Lounge at the Lake Fairways Clubhouse, in North Fort Myers on Wednesday, May 19th starting at 12:00pm.

Ann would say “life is precious, allow love and joy to fill your days, and most importantly “keep on moving”.