Annabelle Fischer (née Cole) died on November 30, 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee. Born in Boise, Idaho on December 21, 1933, to James and Goldie Cole, her early years proved challenging. Ann was born with an undiagnosed hip displacement that impeded her mobility, and her father died when she was two. It was in those early years that Ann’s strong character and work ethic were formed; she and her older brother, John Cole, helped their hard-working, single mother with chores. At four years old, Ann underwent surgery and months of rehabilitation courtesy of the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon to fix her hip. The free surgery provided by the Shriners enabled Ann to walk.
As she grew, Ann grew strong in spirit and kindness. She was clever and witty, a true and loyal friend, a faith-filled Christian, and someone who was generous with her time and talents. An avid reader, Ann also earned recognition in high school for her strong storytelling skills. From her earliest days, she loved attending church services and, despite their meager income, her mother would always ensure Annabelle had a dime to ride the bus by herself to and from church on Sundays.
As a young lady in the 1950s, Ann’s self-reliant and adventurous spirit took her on a bus from Boise to El Paso, Texas, where she enrolled at the University of Texas El Paso. She was attending school and working as a bookkeeper when she met and married John Martin. She gave birth to her first child, John Douglas. Shortly thereafter, following a divorce, Ann met and married Robert A. Fischer, who was stationed at Fort Bliss Texas in El Paso. Bob adopted Doug and the family of three moved east to Maryland where Bob was stationed. This proved to be one of many moves the family would make as Bob began his ascent in the business world and the family grew to include Robert, Jr., Gregg, Holly and Nancy.
Ann’s life with Bob found them living in Maryland, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio and South Carolina. Through all the moves and setting up new homes, Ann remained the steady center of her family. She was each child’s closest friend, a source of strength and certainty for her children and a safe harbor for anyone who felt adrift. Always industrious, Ann raised a family while working as a bookkeeper and bank teller. Never stopping, Ann also pursued her many hobbies including reading, sewing, needlepoint, crocheting and cooking. Her tireless energy also found its way into her volunteer work including working as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children, a driver for Meals on Wheels and a suicide hotline counselor.
Ann was a wonderful mother-in-law to Stephen, Beth, YanXing, John, Jo and Michael. She was also a friend to all who knew her, starting with her earliest friends in Boise and including lifelong friends made in her years in St. Louis, where she and Bob first set up community roots that would last for generations, even as she crisscrossed the country. She was a model of how to love people well—generous with her time, her talents, and her boundless warmth. She was always up for road trips throughout the United States and Canada, and she poured her creativity into beautiful handmade needlework. Many family members and friends cherish the stockings, Santa figures, and other pieces she crafted—treasures that return each Christmas or hang proudly year-round.
One of the brightest parts of Ann’s life was her seven grandchildren – Ginni, Erin, Robert, Bobbi, Mikey, Alina and Naen, with whom she shared deeply personal and joy-filled relationships. She listened with her whole attention, offered comfort and laughter, slipped M&Ms and jellybeans behind their parents’ backs, and kept drawers full of treats and memories. “Grammy Camp” quickly became a highlight of their childhoods—full of adventures, shenanigans, and the kind of attention only she could give. Frequent visits to the Dollar Store, “treat runs,” fast-food outings, and desserts at 3 p.m. were all part of her intentional, exuberant love. Those grandchildren would bless her with nine great-grandchildren, two of whom were named in her honor.
Ann’s wit, humor, and youthful spirit endeared her to everyone she met. She was always busy with something—whether it was Tetris on her Gameboy or simply twirling her hair as she chatted—and whenever she made a minor mistake, her cheerful “Oh, Annabelle!” could be heard before she set things right. After her mother’s passing, she jokingly referred to herself as an “old, gray-haired, crippled orphan,” a glimpse of the self-effacing humor that made her so easy to love.
She took genuine interest in others, offering counsel without an agenda and traveling at a moment’s notice if her children or grandchildren needed her. Even from afar, she listened deeply and advised wisely. She supported each family member in their faith journeys, celebrating alongside them in many different Christian traditions.
Ann was predeceased by her mother, father, step-father, brother, husband, and grandson, Robert.
In appreciation for their care in her early years, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in her honor to the Shriners Children’s Portland hospital, which made it possible for her to walk, love and create a life so well lived.
https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/give/724701/?c_src=shrinerschildrens&c_src2=location-page#!/donation/checkout
As she grew, Ann grew strong in spirit and kindness. She was clever and witty, a true and loyal friend, a faith-filled Christian, and someone who was generous with her time and talents. An avid reader, Ann also earned recognition in high school for her strong storytelling skills. From her earliest days, she loved attending church services and, despite their meager income, her mother would always ensure Annabelle had a dime to ride the bus by herself to and from church on Sundays.
As a young lady in the 1950s, Ann’s self-reliant and adventurous spirit took her on a bus from Boise to El Paso, Texas, where she enrolled at the University of Texas El Paso. She was attending school and working as a bookkeeper when she met and married John Martin. She gave birth to her first child, John Douglas. Shortly thereafter, following a divorce, Ann met and married Robert A. Fischer, who was stationed at Fort Bliss Texas in El Paso. Bob adopted Doug and the family of three moved east to Maryland where Bob was stationed. This proved to be one of many moves the family would make as Bob began his ascent in the business world and the family grew to include Robert, Jr., Gregg, Holly and Nancy.
Ann’s life with Bob found them living in Maryland, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio and South Carolina. Through all the moves and setting up new homes, Ann remained the steady center of her family. She was each child’s closest friend, a source of strength and certainty for her children and a safe harbor for anyone who felt adrift. Always industrious, Ann raised a family while working as a bookkeeper and bank teller. Never stopping, Ann also pursued her many hobbies including reading, sewing, needlepoint, crocheting and cooking. Her tireless energy also found its way into her volunteer work including working as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for children, a driver for Meals on Wheels and a suicide hotline counselor.
Ann was a wonderful mother-in-law to Stephen, Beth, YanXing, John, Jo and Michael. She was also a friend to all who knew her, starting with her earliest friends in Boise and including lifelong friends made in her years in St. Louis, where she and Bob first set up community roots that would last for generations, even as she crisscrossed the country. She was a model of how to love people well—generous with her time, her talents, and her boundless warmth. She was always up for road trips throughout the United States and Canada, and she poured her creativity into beautiful handmade needlework. Many family members and friends cherish the stockings, Santa figures, and other pieces she crafted—treasures that return each Christmas or hang proudly year-round.
One of the brightest parts of Ann’s life was her seven grandchildren – Ginni, Erin, Robert, Bobbi, Mikey, Alina and Naen, with whom she shared deeply personal and joy-filled relationships. She listened with her whole attention, offered comfort and laughter, slipped M&Ms and jellybeans behind their parents’ backs, and kept drawers full of treats and memories. “Grammy Camp” quickly became a highlight of their childhoods—full of adventures, shenanigans, and the kind of attention only she could give. Frequent visits to the Dollar Store, “treat runs,” fast-food outings, and desserts at 3 p.m. were all part of her intentional, exuberant love. Those grandchildren would bless her with nine great-grandchildren, two of whom were named in her honor.
Ann’s wit, humor, and youthful spirit endeared her to everyone she met. She was always busy with something—whether it was Tetris on her Gameboy or simply twirling her hair as she chatted—and whenever she made a minor mistake, her cheerful “Oh, Annabelle!” could be heard before she set things right. After her mother’s passing, she jokingly referred to herself as an “old, gray-haired, crippled orphan,” a glimpse of the self-effacing humor that made her so easy to love.
She took genuine interest in others, offering counsel without an agenda and traveling at a moment’s notice if her children or grandchildren needed her. Even from afar, she listened deeply and advised wisely. She supported each family member in their faith journeys, celebrating alongside them in many different Christian traditions.
Ann was predeceased by her mother, father, step-father, brother, husband, and grandson, Robert.
In appreciation for their care in her early years, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in her honor to the Shriners Children’s Portland hospital, which made it possible for her to walk, love and create a life so well lived.
https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/give/724701/?c_src=shrinerschildrens&c_src2=location-page#!/donation/checkout
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