Anna M. "Ann" Bell

Anna M. "Ann" Bell, of Wethersfield, CT died peacefully at her home on January 25, 2015. Her death came mere days after terminating her dialysis treatments, which she had courageously and faithfully endured thrice weekly for twelve plus years. It was dialysis that had enabled Ann to extend her life and remain active until her final hours. Ann was born in Hartford on January 17, 1933 to her late parents, Andrew and Anna Bell, and was their only child. Her father died in 1940 and she and her mother were taken in by family and friends. Ann attended Hartford Public Schools and was a Class of 1951 graduate of Hartford Public High School. After working in the Payroll Department of Aetna (Fire) Insurance Co. for 8 years, Ann began employment with Allied Metal Products, Inc., Kensington, CT in 1959. She rose through the ranks of Allied Metal to become president and part owner and served as such until the business was sold in 1996. Ann was a devoted member first of the former St. Paul's United Methodist Church (now United Methodist Church of Hartford), 1947-71, and then the West Hartford United Methodist Church, 1971-2015. She was very active on various boards and committees of both churches throughout her years of membership. She leaves no immediate living family, but first cousins, Elizabeth Flynn of East Hartford, Harriet Bishop of Bloomfield and Norma Szydlik of San Diego. She also leaves many close friends and admirers, including Benedetto and Josephine Feole, Joanne Monzillo and Carolyn Bosso, all of Kensington. To Dr. John F. D'Avella and the staff of the Kidney Dialysis Unit of Hartford Hospital, Ann owed her everlasting gratitude for giving her over a decade of life she would not have had otherwise. She was also immensely grateful to Dianne P. Antos and Charles Begley for their ongoing assistance and to Diane and Robert Lopez for their neighborliness. No words can adequately express Ann's enormous appreciation for the indefatigable loving attention and spiritual guidance of her pastor, The Rev. Richard Hanse of the West Hartford United Methodist Church. A memorial service for Ann will be held on Thursday 29 January a, at 11:00a.m., at the West Hartford United Methodist Church, 1358 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, with Rev. Hanse officiating. A reception will follow. Private interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford, next to the final resting place of Dorothy M. Callahan, who was like a mother to Ann and for whom Ann cared for many years. Gifts in memory of Ann may be made to the West Hartford United Methodist Church for its Monday Morning Mission Group or Caring Kitchen, two of Ann's favorite involvements. Final arrangements have been entrusted to Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home of West Hartford. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.