Ann Garson Boise

Ann Garson Boise

AGE: 97 • Salem, VA

Ann Garson Boise passed away February 19, 2013 at the age of 97. She was born in Vincennes, IN to Joseph and Catherine Gosciniak. Ann graduated with a bachelor of education in 1941 from the University of Southern Illinois in Carbondale, IL. After college, she taught English in an all-grades rural school. before moving to Chicago. There she worked in retail and met and married Howard "Bill" Boise. The couple moved to New Jersey where Ann devoted her attention to home and daughters while Bill managed Boise's, the family business in Plainfield. Having a sincere interest in women's issues, Ann became a member of AAUW and the League of Women Voters and volunteered as a Girl Scout leader. Later she began working at Boise's. Area residents may remember her assisting them with gifts and stationary. In 1992, the couple retired to Salem, Virginia where Ann pursued her passion for plants, maintaining a lovely garden at their home and joining the Salem Garden Club. She also volunteered at the Salem Museum and Historical Society. She and Bill enjoyed travel, in particular to Poland with Global Volunteers where they taught English to children and adults.

Ann was predeceased by Bill, who died in August 2012, and by her sister, Mary Bradley of Tucson, AZ. She is survived by her daughters Josephine Boise Budell, Linda Boise, Gretchen Boise, and Heidi Boise; sons-in-law Steven Goldberg and Dennis Montagna; and grandchildren Lesley and Chase Budell, Emily and Sylvan Goldberg, and Nicholas and Katherine Montagna.

A reception in memory of Ann and Bill Boise will be held at the Salem Museum and Historical Society in Salem, VA (www.salemmuseum.org) on June 1, 2013. The family welcomes readers to attend or send reminiscences to be shared with others during that time.