Ann Blanche Devine went to her heavenly reward surrounded by many of her loving family on Tuesday, December 29, 2009. Ann died of medical complications following surgery for a broken femur at Sanford Hospital USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. She made Vermillion, South Dakota her home for the past 25 years as a client of SESDAC, a non-profit agency assisting people with disabilities to live, work and socialize in their communities.
Ann was born May 13, 1963, to Thomas and Annie (Glidden) Devine, the fifteenth child with seven brothers and seven sisters. Despite her Down's syndrome, Ann was never treated as disabled. Her socialization among so many siblings, extended family and friends allowed for growth beyond all expectations. She graduated from Wakonda High School having been a cheerleader and serious student.
Upon graduation, Ann insisted upon going to college, having watched her brothers and sisters leave home. She became a client of SESDAC and quickly moved from group-home living to an independent lifestyle, living in her own supervised apartment. For several years, Ann worked at Taco Johns and Comfort Inn. Recently, she has been volunteering at Pam's Day Care where she loved holding babies and teasing toddlers. Ann's favorite things were writing letters to her friends and family, working word search, playing Rummy and visiting. She loved to travel and spend time with family in Arizona, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and Texas. Ann never met a stranger and collected friends all during her lifetime. She loved music and could sing "You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman" with the best of singers. Her directness, joy of life, humor, and generosity will forever remain in the hearts of those who grieve her death.
Ann is survived by her sisters: Kathleen (Arizona), Joan (Oregon), Barb (New Mexico), Diane (North Dakota), Margo (Wakonda), Mary Jean (Brookings), and Donna (Washington). Her surviving brothers are: Tom (Watertown), Jim (Wakonda), Brian (Texas), Bob (Sioux Falls), Joe (Oregon) and Pat (Minnesota).
Her “best special” brothers-in-law are: Joseph Karol, Wayne Berglund, Lenny Tischler, Leon Hoeg, Tom McCue, John Ruane and David Tarver. Ann's “best special” sisters-in-law are: Lori, Chris, Mary Ann, Kathy, Nancy and Pat's Kathy.
Four paternal aunts, Mary Ellen Powell, Monica Ballard, Veronica Heimes and Madeline Devine, will miss their “best special” niece, Ann.
A Eucharistic Celebration of Ann’s life will be celebrated Saturday, January 2, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Wakonda. Burial will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, rural Wakonda, SD.
Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Friday at the church with a rosary at 6:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, Ann’s family requests that memorial donations be sent to one of the following: St. Patrick’s Church, 209 Iowa St. Wakonda, SD 57073
SESDAC, c/o Mr. Tracy, 1314 E. Cherry St. Vermillion, SD 57069
Tom & Ann Devine Scholarship Fund, MMC, 1105 W. 8th St.
Yankton, SD 57078
