Anna Della Bird

Anna Della Bird (Priebe), 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, in Mesa, Arizona.

A funeral service and burial will be held on Saturday, November 15th at 12:00 pm at the Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7900 E. Main Street, Mesa, Arizona.

Ann was born on January 21, 1944, in Chicago Heights, Illinois to George and Mamie (Giovengo) Priebe. Ann was the oldest of five children, including two sisters and two brothers. She graduated from Peotone High School in 1962 and thereafter attended a trade school to learn keypunch operations in Omaha, Nebraska. While attending school in Nebraska she met Wayne Bird, her true love and husband of 56 years. Ann and Wayne were married in Chicago Heights, Illinois on June 20, 1964, eventually settling in Independence, Iowa where they raised three children – Scott, Cindy, and Kandy.

Ann worked at United Airlines in data entry before becoming a housewife and mother. When her children were old enough to stay out of trouble when unsupervised, she worked for the Independence Bulletin Journal. After relocating the family to Tempe, Arizona in 1986, Ann worked for a print shop, then at a doctor's office handling medical billing. She retired in 2009.

Ann loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and dear friends. She enjoyed traveling, working in her garden, crocheting baby blankets and stuffed animals, reading, playing games and coloring on her Kindle, cruising with friends and family, and playing the slot machines.

Ann is survived by her daughters: Cindy Chappell of Mesa, Arizona and Kandy (Jim) Halsey of Las Vegas, Nevada; her daughter-in-law: Allyson (late Scott) Bird of Central City, Iowa; eight grandchildren: Ashton (Karley), Jimmy (Alexis), Dylan, Mackenzie (Cameron), Olivia (TJ), Haleigh, Gabby, and Aiden; six great-grandchildren: Briar, Vivianna, Bryson, Brecken, Tyson, and the newest addition expected in February; seventeen nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews.

Ann was preceded in death by her beloved husband Wayne and her cherished son Scott; her parents George and Mamie Priebe; her sisters Shirley (late Lenny) Ravellette and Deloris (Dennis) Brooks; and her brothers Dale and Robert (Judy) Priebe.

When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure. Ann will forever be treasured by everyone who loved her and she will forever remain in our hearts.

Ann's adored dog Dutchess passed recently, and she was searching for an elderly dog to rescue from the local shelter. Therefore, we encourage any donations be made in her memory to the Arizona Animal Small Dog Rescue at https://azsmalldog.org/donate/.