“A disposition is more valuable than gold.”
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ann Marie Collson Johnson on January 26, 2025.
Ann leaves behind her beloved Husband, Thomas Johnson during their 63rd year of marriage.
Ann leaves behind her three children, Tamber (Stephen) Tosca (Scott), Terence (Sandra), and grandchildren Julia (Yordi), Sadie, Anna, Campbell, Calvin and her recent delight great-granddaughter Eva.
In addition to being MOM to the 3 Ts she was also “mom” to many others during her life. She was a a terrific sounding board offering unvarnished opinion, constructive criticism, and motivation to embrace independence to anyone who chose to step through her open door and into her heart.
Our Family grew through mom’s generous spirit — she leaves behind Shirley Jason, and Heather Resslar Yu along with her many circles of friends, her nursing class of 1962, her “up on the hill” friends, her library and book club friends. Ann was super tight with her paternal Collson cousins with whom she maintained lifelong bonds and a love of card playing.
Ann was a staunch humanitarian and was steadfast and expansive in her support of people from all walks of life. Ann was energetic and she loved to swim, dance and cook. Throwing together a meal for 5-25 was never a problem and all were welcome to her table.
Ann Marie Collson Johnson was born in Berkshire, New York, on August 6, 1940 to Eleanor Blanche Chaffee Collson and John Hilton Collson.
Ann was willfully independent and adored her early farm life with her grandparents. Although Ann was an “only child,” she was never alone. Outgoing from day one, she led an adventurous life in upstate New York surrounded by her Collson cousins. Ann embraced the energy of joining and belonging throughout her life.
By the fourth grade her father’s career carried the family to Lakewood, NJ, where Ann completed her high school education. She continued into a five-year nursing program at Hartwick College, graduating in 1962. At this point Ann and Tom had become much more than the fast friends they were upon meeting in the fourth grade. Ann married Tom, her high school sweetheart, in 1962 and traveled west so Tom could attend Art Center College of Design, eventually relocating to Motor City where Tom worked for Ford and Ann focused on raising their young and growing family.
By 1968 Ann and Tom had returned to New Jersey, settling in Hopewell. Ann’s favorite and final home. The kids working their way out of the nest, Ann returned to nursing and eventually started her own medically related business. Both as assistant director of Nursing at New Jersey Neuropsychiatric and at the helm of her company, Insurance Assistance, she continued fearlessly to untangle intractable issues while always keeping her focus on the prize — helping others.
Her disposition did indeed prove more valuable than gold as the riches of her friendships attest.
An educated medical professional Ann faced her prognosis with strength and dignity, mothering us even the morning she left us on January 26, 2025. It is that strength and her steady love that will guide us through our days without her.
